It is obvious assad didn't want this situation.
But he lost control. Desperation led to the Iran Russia "alliance".
The only way to regain a smidgen of what he had was to obliterate and demoralise the sunni rebels. That includes bombing sunni towns, with normal people.
That is what I think has occurred anyway. He didn't begin the revolution, but he is not a nobleman.
Desperation can lead you to lose your head.