AFP and Staff Reporter
The consequences of wars in the Middle East and Ukraine came to bear on a Syrian regime which, until yesterday, had survived through brutal force and Machiavellian machinations for 53 years.
Bashar al Assad, who had survived the Arab Spring uprising of 2011 and a subsequent rebel onslaught, propped up by his Russian backers, was forced to flee in the early hours of yesterday morning as rebels marched through several government-held areas and major cities, encountering little resistance as government soldiers abandoned their posts.
Assad’s whereabouts remain unclear, but Russia, his key ally, announced his resignation and departure from Syria. Rebels hailed this as a victory for freedom, declaring Damascus “liberated”.
Smoke billowed over the city as residents wandered through the abandoned presidential palace, where furniture and a discarded portrait of Assad were all that remained.
Bloomberg reported on Saturday that Assad had sought the help of the Americans to halt the rebel advance on Damascus, through intermediaries in the UAE, making overtures to American President-elect Donald Trump.
Responding to the events, unfolding in Syria on X, before Assad’s regime had collapsed, Trump said America should not get involved.
“Opposition fighters in Syria, in an unprecedented move, have totally taken over numerous cities, in a highly co-ordinated offensive, and are now on the outskirts of Damascus, obviously preparing to make a very big move toward taking out Assad.
“Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600 000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.
“Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & the United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved!” tweeted Trump.
“I can’t believe I’m living this moment,” said Damascus resident Amer Batha. “We are starting a new history for Syria.”
Assad’s reported departure follows a swift offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which captured key cities, including Homs, within two weeks. HTS announced the “end of 50 years of Baathist oppression and 13 years of tyranny” on social media. They also claimed responsibility for liberating Sednaya Prison, a notorious symbol of Assad’s regime, freeing scores of detainees.
Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Assad fled via Damascus International Airport before security forces withdrew. While this has not been independently verified, the prime minister expressed willingness to co-operate with “any leadership chosen by the Syrian people”.
Across Syria, statues of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father and the architect of the Baathist regime, were toppled. For decades, even suspected dissent could result in imprisonment or death under Assad’s rule. The rebels’ rapid advances reignited a war that had largely stagnated.
As the situation unfolded, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria (CoI) described Assad’s fall as a “historic new beginning”. CoI chairperson Paulo Pinheiro emphasised the significance of Sednaya’s prisoners being freed, calling for an end to the atrocities associated with Assad’s regime.
“This is a moment millions of Syrians thought they’d never see,” said Pinheiro.
Fellow commissioner Lynn Welchman urged caution to preserve evidence of war crimes, while Hanny Megally highlighted the potential for progress in locating Syria’s disappeared.
World leaders reacted swiftly to the developments. US President Joe Biden described the events as extraordinary, while Trump stated Assad had fled after losing Russian backing. Lebanese group Hezbollah, a supporter of Assad for a long time, reportedly withdrew its forces from Damascus.
The CoI warned the new leadership against replicating past abuses.
“The Syrian people deserve the protection of their homes and possessions,” it stated, calling for an end to looting and displacement.
Syria awoke to a transformed nation yesterday. Thousands of prisoners have been freed, offering hope to families awaiting news of loved ones. The CoI hailed initial pledges to protect civilians but insisted actions must align with these promises.
“The new leadership has an opportunity to break the cycle of oppression,” the CoI said. “It is incumbent upon them to ensure such atrocities are never repeated.”
As the nation begins its new chapter, Syrians face the challenge of rebuilding from decades of repression and conflict, with cautious optimism for a brighter future.