Syrian rebels topple Asaad regime, seize Damascus
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The news: Syrian rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, seizing Damascus and ending his family’s 54-year grip on power, sparking uncertainty about Syria’s future and its impact on the region.
Assad fled the country early Sunday to an unknown location after reportedly negotiating a peaceful power transfer, The Associated Press said citing Russian sources.
Celebrations erupted as rebels freed prisoners and took control of key sites like the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace and Iran's embassy.
The context: Assad’s departure brings an end to 54 years of authoritarian rule by the Assad family in Syria. His father, Hafez Assad, took power in a bloodless coup in 1970 and governed until his death in 2000. Bashar Assad succeeded him shortly after and remained in power until his overthrow on Sunday.
Islamist group Hezbollah withdrew its forces ahead of the rebel advance, and suspected Israeli airstrikes targeted military sites in southern Syria in what appeared to be a move to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of radical groups.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main faction that was once al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front and spearheaded the rebel advance. The globally designated terrorist group is led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani and has sought to rebrand as a moderate force.
Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali is advocating free elections and has been in contact with Golani to discuss a transitional government, according to media reports.
The collapse of Assad’s rule, hastened by Israel’s targeting of Hezbollah leaders in recent months, is reshaping Middle Eastern dynamics. Russia has previously lent major support to the Asaad regime. But this time Moscow is constrained by its Ukraine invasion, so its influence will be limited despite military bases in Syria.
What they said: "Our message to all the sects of Syria is that we tell them that Syria is for everyone, no exceptions.” Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi said in a televised address on State TV.
“Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, and all sects. We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did,” he added.
Deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East, Daniel Shapiro said at a conference on Sunday that the US will continue its presence in eastern Syria to counter Islamic State threats.
Speaking at a conference in Doha, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged caution, saying that “terrorist organisations” most not be allowed to exploit the situation in Syria.
The sources: Reuters , The Associated Press
