Challenges to Bashar al-Assad's Rule: Factors Contributing to Instability in Syria During the Civil War

Ethnic and sectarian tensions further complicated the situation in Syria. The ruling Assad family belongs to the Alawite sect, a minority in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country. This sectarian divide fueled resentment among Sunni communities, who felt marginalized and discriminated against under Assad’s rule. As the protests turned into an armed conflict, these sectarian tensions intensified, leading to a brutal civil war that further fragmented the country.