Messy situation here.
Latakia is the main Russian base in Latakia. Iran and the Russians are both supporting Assad. Also in that camp are both Hezbollah and the large Syrian Christian community.
Israel along with us and the Saudis have ended up supporting the Muslim Brotherhood fundamentalists.
We hate Iran. I get that. But Iran supports Assad who’s a secular SOB. In that part of the world, a secular Arab Strongman is about the best you can get. Assad protects the Christians in Syria. If Assad goes, it’s an open season on the Christians in Syria.