The al-Assad Rule Comes to an End After Half a Century of Brutal Dictatorship

By: I. Toledo

Since 2000, brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad has been ruling Syria. The Syrian Civil War started in 2011 during the Arab Spring when Assad repressed a movement advocating for democracy. The war resulted in over 500 casualties and millions displaced as rebel groups continued fighting against the government.
 
After half a century of the al-Assad family ruling Syria autocratically, prospects of change seemed far away. Backed by Iran and Russia, who supplied military force and air power respectively, the al-Assad government successfully managed to continuously crush rebels. However, this time, the allies didn’t come to al-Assad’s rescue when the rebels launched a powerful attack against the regime and his troops were unable to stop them.
 
On November 27, a group of armed opposition fighters, primarily from the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched attacks, capturing the second-largest city in Syria, Aleppo, in only three days and subsequently taking significant parts of Damascus, the country’s capital. On December 2, the rebels declared Syria liberated from the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who reportedly fled Damascus and is currently in Moscow.
 
The announcement of Assad’s flee sparked celebrations in several parts of the nations, with Syrians waving the revolution flag, gathering in public squares, chanting anti-Assad slogans, and toppling statues of al-Assad’s father, Hafez.
 
This event will significantly shift dynamics in the region. Russia and Iran could lose a significant strategic ally and see their influence in the Middle East weakened. Although Israel will be glad for the blow to Iran, there is the possibility of an Islamist-led government in Syria, which could be more directly hostile towards Israel than al-Assad’s government. A possible beneficiary in the region is Turkey, which supported the rebellion against Assad and can now strengthen its influence over the region. Additionally, countries currently hosting Syrian refugees, including Turkey and Lebanon, could benefit from the eventual safe return of refugees to Syria.
 
Still, the future remains uncertain. With the fall of al-Assad coming as a surprise for Syria and the whole world, it is hard to predict what lies ahead. There is a possibility for a democratic, more peaceful government, but one cannot assume how this vacuum of power will be filled.