In a historic turn of events, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country as opposition forces, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seized control of Damascus.
This marks the end of 61 years of Baathist rule, which began in 1963 following a coup by the Baath Party, with the Assad family’s dominance starting after Hafez al-Assad’s coup in 1970.
Why it matters:
The armed insurrection, reignited last week, culminates a decade of civil war that began after the Arab Spring protests in 2011.
Assad’s regime, heavily supported by Russia and Iran, controlled most of Syria until this recent blitzkrieg.
The campaign has reshaped regional dynamics, leaving Syria’s future leadership uncertain.
Neighbouring countries and global powers are now bracing for the fallout of this seismic shift.
Behind the scenes:
Assad reportedly fled Damascus on a private flight to an undisclosed location.
Syrian government forces surrendered without resistance, shedding uniforms as rebels advanced.
Iran negotiated safe passage for its troops and the protection of Shia shrines with HTS, according to the New York Times.
US President-elect Donald Trump has tweeted that ‘Syria is not our fight,’ marking his non-interventionist policies in the region as he takes power in January.
Jordan has said that ‘liberating Syria’ would mean the return of millions of refugees in the country, while also ending to Captagon drug epidemic in the region.
Regional leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, hailed the change as a step toward Syrian self-determination
Road to Damascus: HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a statement congratulating Syrians and urging his troops to “preserve and protect public properties.”
For HTS and the Syrian opposition, the blitzkrieg encountered little resistance as Assad’s defence lines collapsed.
Only Homs, bolstered by a significant Hezbollah militia presence, witnessed fierce fighting, but it too fell early this morning.
The future of Syria’s relations with its neighbours and the Arab world remains uncertain, as the structure and leadership of the new government are still unknown.
Questions linger about the roles Syrian opposition factions, including HTS, will play.
However, one thing is clear: the Baathist era has come to an end.