The fall of Syria's dictator, Bashar al-Assad, was influenced by a range of factors, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) offensive and Turkey's support for the group. However, the catalyst for Assad’s downfall was the October 2023 attack ordered by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Although Sinwar intended to revolutionize the Middle East, his actions led to unintended consequences.