In Syria, the regime of Assad has fallen, leaving behind a tragic legacy of countless deaths and a nation in ruins. Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000 following the death of his father. Initially viewed as a prospective reformer due to his Western education and promises of modernization, Assad’s rule quickly devolved into authoritarianism and brutality. He harshly suppressed peaceful protests in 2011 during the Arab Spring, igniting a civil war that ravaged the country. The conflict resulted in the deaths of nearly half a million Syrians, with more than seven million fleeing the country. Assad’s regime has also been accused of using chemical weapons, targeting schools and hospitals in rebel-held areas like Aleppo, and exacerbating the brutality of the conflict.
Throughout the war, Assad relied on support from Russia and Iran. Russian airstrikes backed his forces in bombing civilian areas in provinces such as Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. International condemnation of Assad’s regime has been widespread, with criticisms focusing on the use of chemical weapons, the suppression of human rights, torture, and the destruction of cultural and religious heritage. Despite this, Assad managed to cling to power for over two decades. However, his regime came to an abrupt end this year.
On December 8, 2024, armed opponents of Assad’s regime stormed Damascus and claimed full control over the capital and other major cities. The Assad government offered no resistance, marking the end of his 24-year rule. Assad’s current whereabouts remain unknown. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Assad had resigned and left Syria. On December 9, 2024, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Assad had been granted asylum in Russia.
Videos from inside Assad’s presidential palace began circulating on social media, showing locals looting the premises. According to official United Nations data, over 90% of Syrians have been living below the poverty line since the civil war began in 2011. The looting underscores the desperation of a population that feels robbed of everything by the former government.
After the Overthrow
The new leadership of Syria has pledged to transfer power to authorities chosen by the Syrian people. While Russian officials initially labeled the new rulers as “terrorists,” their rhetoric has shifted, referring instead to Syria’s “opposition.” Russian authorities have criticized Assad posthumously for relying too heavily on Iran and not enough on Russia during his reign.
The leader of the rebel groups that stormed Damascus is Abu Mohammad Al-Julani, head of the “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) group. Originally associated with Al-Qaeda, HTS began distancing itself ideologically from the global jihadist network in recent years. Born in Riyadh in 1982, Al-Julani studied media and journalism at Damascus University but left before graduating. After joining Al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2003, he was arrested by U.S. forces and spent five years in prison. Upon his release, he founded Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate but started to chart an independent course for HTS around 2016.
Al-Julani has since tried to rebrand himself and his group as nationalists dedicated to liberating Syria from authoritarian rule and expelling Iranian forces. However, he remains on the U.S. government’s list of specially designated global terrorists. The international community remains cautious, fearing that his radical past and jihadist ideology could resurface, overshadowing efforts to stabilize post-Assad Syria.
Amidst the transition, the rebels released prisoners from Saydnaya Prison, where many anti-government activists and political dissidents had been held. However, some of those released were convicted criminals, creating chaos that further complicates the country’s volatile situation.
In response to the regime’s collapse, Israel launched airstrikes on Syrian military facilities, fearing that advanced weaponry could fall into the hands of extremist groups. While the international community largely celebrates the end of Assad’s era, many Syrians brace for an even more uncertain future. Concerns are growing that former jihadist groups could form a regime resembling that of the Taliban, dimming hopes for true freedom after decades of authoritarian rule.
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