In fact this is a civil and regional war at the same time.
On one side, the Sunni muslims, accounting for 70% at least of the Syrian population, supported by fundamentalist Wahhabi countries (mainly Saoudi Arabia and Quatar) ;
One the other side, the leading minority of Shia (Alawite mainly, Assad clique and supporters), accounting for something like 15% of the population, and very directly supported by Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah (itself supported by Iran, and very often crossing the border to help Assad). It seems that this minority is, ATM, supported by the other religious minorities of Syria (Mainly Christians and Druze), frightened by what is happening in Irak, for example.
Thus, it's no need of name calling or other "you brainwashed" kindergarten mottos, it is simply a religious war between Muslims (which "champions" are Saoudi Arabia and Iran), which is raging in Irak and will extend wherever it could in Middle-East.
The other non muslim "powers" are choosing their side (and their oil suppliers or weapon buyers) : Russia and in a lesser extent China have chosen Iran, and the USA and Western countries have more or less chosen Saudi Arabia. Strategic and economic interest of both sides are very obvious, so there is no good guys and bad guys here. But as supporting Saoudi Arabia and Pakistan is a very dangerous game for the US, supporting Iran for Russia and China may be very dangerous too.
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