After Aleppo fell, it became clear that Assad had no real intentions of staying in power

That’s it? Just simply lost all desire of being in power and said, “Fuck it, I’m moving to Russia.” I mean, I understand resisting imperialism isn’t an easy job and all, but it’s quotes like these that make me feel there was something else at play here for how easily he just folded without putting up much of a fight, didn’t even ask his allies for aid.

I don’t know, could be that he was just simply tired.