Syrian rebels on Sunday declared the end of Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule following a surprise military offensive that quickly took control of key areas in Syria. This announcement, made on state television, marked a dramatic shift in the country’s political landscape. The Syrian army had also informed its officers that Assad's regime had collapsed, according to a Syrian officer who spoke to Reuters.
Despite this, the Syrian army later insisted that it was continuing operations against "terrorist groups" in important cities like Hama, Homs, and the Deraa countryside. Assad, who had long suppressed any opposition, reportedly fled Damascus earlier in the day, although his exact destination remains unknown. Senior officers confirmed that the rebels had entered the capital, with no sign of any military resistance.
The rebels celebrated their victory by announcing the release of prisoners from Sednaya prison, a notorious facility on the outskirts of Damascus, where the regime had detained thousands of political prisoners. Thousands of Syrians took to the streets of Damascus, waving flags and chanting "Freedom," as they celebrated the collapse of a regime that had lasted for over half a century.
This momentous event has sent shockwaves through the Middle East, marking the end of the Assad family’s iron-fisted rule and striking a major blow to Russia and Iran, which had been staunch allies of the Assad regime. The rapid turn of events has left Arab capitals stunned and raised concerns about the potential for further instability in the region.
The collapse of Assad’s regime comes after more than 13 years of war, which has devastated Syria, causing widespread destruction, the deaths of hundreds of thousands, and the displacement of millions of people. While the fall of Assad’s government is seen as a turning point, the challenges ahead remain immense, particularly in stabilizing the areas in western Syria now under rebel control.
One of the key issues moving forward is how the international community, particularly Western governments, will engage with the new leadership in Syria. The rebel group that led the charge against Assad, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has a complex history. It was once an al-Qaeda affiliate, known as the Nusra Front, until it severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016. HTS now stands as Syria’s most powerful rebel faction, but many Syrians fear that it could impose a harsh, extremist rule or seek reprisals against those who supported the Assad regime.
Joshua Landis, a Syria expert and director of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, noted that HTS would likely want to ensure an orderly transition, avoiding the chaos that followed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. “They will need international support to rebuild, and they will likely seek to have sanctions lifted,” Landis said.
As the situation continues to unfold, the world is closely watching how Syria’s new leadership will handle governance, particularly given the influence of HTS and the challenges of rebuilding a country devastated by years of war. HTS has made significant advances across the country, but the question remains whether it will be able to lead Syria toward a more stable and peaceful future.
Meanwhile, reports from Damascus indicate that a Syrian Air plane took off from the capital around the time the city fell to the rebels. The plane initially headed toward Syria’s coastal region, which is home to Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made a sudden U-turn before disappearing off the radar. Some sources speculate that Assad may have been on board and that the plane could have been shot down, but this has not been confirmed.
As the rebels celebrated their victory, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali expressed his willingness to support any new leadership chosen by the Syrian people. He emphasized the need for continuity in governance during this transitional period.
From Protest to War: The Syrian Conflict
The conflict in Syria began in 2011 as an uprising against Assad’s regime, but it quickly escalated into a full-scale civil war involving multiple international powers and creating a breeding ground for global militant groups. The war has had a far-reaching impact, destabilizing the region and leading to the displacement of millions of Syrian refugees.
The recent developments, however, mark a shift in the balance of power within Syria. As the rebels advanced through key cities, they gained control of Syria’s strategic heartland, including crucial highways that connect Damascus with the coastal region. This breakthrough effectively severed the regime’s control over key areas and delivered a symbolic blow to Assad’s power.
In Homs, thousands of residents poured into the streets to celebrate after the army withdrew from the city. The rebels took control of the city’s prison, freeing thousands of detainees, and burned documents that were left behind by security forces. The fall of Homs is particularly significant because it had been the site of intense fighting in the past, and its capture by rebels is seen as a major victory.
Mazloum Abdi, the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, expressed his optimism about the future of Syria in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We are witnessing historic moments as the authoritarian regime in Damascus falls,” Abdi said. “This change presents an opportunity to build a new Syria, one founded on democracy and justice, where the rights of all Syrians are respected.”
The fall of Assad’s regime represents a critical turning point for Syria. However, the country’s path to peace and stability will be long and challenging. The coming days and weeks will reveal whether Syria’s new leadership can manage the complex task of rebuilding the nation while ensuring that the rights of all citizens, including women and minorities, are respected.
US Response
US President-elect Donald Trump took to social media early Sunday to comment on the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.
“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, was no longer interested in protecting him,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Russia had no reason to be there in the first place,” he continued, adding, “They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine.”
Trump also noted the weakened states of Russia and Iran, attributing Russia’s struggles to the war in Ukraine and its economic troubles, while blaming Iran’s situation on Israel’s success in recent conflicts.
The president-elect then addressed the ongoing conflict, pointing out the heavy casualties on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war, and called for an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations, without specifying which conflict he was referring to.