The Assad regime in Syria came to an end Saturday after more than 50 years in power following a rapid rebel offensive that advanced into Damascus and reclaimed the capital city with little resistance.
The rebels proclaimed Syria “free” after storming into Damascus and seizing the city as dictator Bashar al-Assad fled the country, according to multiple reports. The rebel offensive began on November 27th and fighters quickly took control of the cities of Aleppo and Hama.
The Russian foreign ministry announced Assad left the country but did not disclose his location and denied playing any role in his departure. The ministry also claimed Assad resigned and ordered his prime minister to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power. There is no available statement from the Syrian government at this time.
“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,” President-elect Donald Trump said on Truth Social Sunday morning.
“Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.”
The Assad regime falling apart could increase regional instability in the Middle East, where Israel has been fighting a multi-front war against Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah that began after Hamas’s mass civilian slaughter on October 7, 2023. Israel largely decimated Hezbollah’s capabilities in its multi-front war before agreeing to a cease-fire deal for at least the next 60 days.
Meanwhile, Russia remains tied up in Ukraine almost three years after it invaded its sovereign neighbor and faced strong resistance from Ukrainian forces. Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah allowed Assad to maintain power as Syria plunged into civil war following an uprising in 2011.
“Determining Syria’s fate and deciding its future is solely the responsibility of its people, free from destructive interference or external imposition,” the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement.
With Assad no longer in power, the Israeli military sent troops to a buffer zone in the Golan heights to prepare for potential chaos and instability in neighboring Syria. It is the first time since 1974 that Israeli forces have been stationed in the buffer zone.
“This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime,” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “This has created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime.”
Videos on social media circulated widely that appeared to show the rebels inside Assad’s palace and Syrian people celebrating the end of the regime. The rebels freed dozens of prisoners outside Damascus and took control of Damascus international airport.
“President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” said White House spokesman Sean Savett late Saturday night.
The collapse of the Assad regime marks the end of a 53-year dictatorship that began with Hafez al-Assad gaining power through a military coup in 1970. Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000 after his father’s death and spent the better part of 14 years fighting the civil war.
Former Syrian prime minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali has said that he remains in the country and is prepared to support the transfer of power to the opposition.
“I am not leaving and I don’t intend to leave. I expect in a peaceful manner to guarantee the continuity of the public authorities and the institutions and the state apparatus and to guarantee the safety and security for all citizens,” he said in a video statement.
Rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Julani, leader of Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, said the former prime minister will supervise the transition and ordered rebel soldiers to not approach government institutions.