Would-be democrats, freedom fighters, jihadists, Sunni extremists, and Al Qaeda elements – all supported by Sunni Arab countries and groups, now man one side of the battle lines. Against them are arrayed President Bashar al-Assad and his cronies, Shia militant groups fighting to protect their lifelines to Iran, religious minorities concerned about life after Assad, and, most ominously, Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah.
认为对抗双方是理想远大的民主派和牢骚满腹的独裁者这种对阿拉伯之春运动熟悉（但并不完全准确）而简单的理解早已不复存在。逊尼派阿拉伯国家和团体支持下的自诩民主派、自由战士、圣战者、逊尼派极端分子和“基地”组织人员现在处于战线的一端。总统巴沙尔·阿萨德及其亲信，为保护通往伊朗的生命线而战斗的什叶派武装团体、对后阿萨德时期生活忧心忡忡的宗教少数派人士，以及最难对付的伊朗及其在黎巴嫩的代理真主党则处在战线的另一端。