Syrian rebels received approximately 150 drones and other support from Ukrainian intelligence agents, as reported by the Washington Post. This assistance included 20 drone operators sent to aid Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), just weeks before their successful advance against President Bashar al-Assad. While Russia accused the rebels of receiving and being trained on the drones, Kyiv categorically denied these claims. The fall of Assad is seen as a potential threat to Russian military positions in Syria and the broader Russian presence in the Middle East.