50-Year of Dictatorship Overturned Overnight: Syria
Embedded Files
DECEMBER 2024
Syria is an extraordinary history that can be told in a story of tyranny, defiance, and the dramatic fall of a dynasty that ruled Syria for over half a century.
For 50 long years, the Assad family reigned over Syria with an iron fist, their grip unyielding, their rule unchallenged.
But as of this week, the unthinkable has happened—the Assad regime has fallen, and Syria stands on the precipice of an uncertain future.
Our story begins in 2000, when Bashar al-Assad, an ophthalmologist turned reluctant autocrat, inherited the presidency from his father, the formidable Hafez al-Assad.
Hafez had ruled for 30 years, and under his shadow, Syria became synonymous with strict authoritarianism.
Bashar, however, promised change—a modernization of Syria’s economy and governance. But those promises were short-lived.
In 2011, a tide of hope and rebellion swept across the Arab world called Arab Spring.
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...Syria became synonymous with strict authoritarianism
Peaceful protests demanding democracy and reform took root in Syria. Bashar responded not with dialogue, but with devastation.
A brutal crackdown turned hope into horror, sparking a civil war that consumed the nation. Over half a million lives were lost, 12 million displaced, and the country became a fractured land of rubble and grief.
In August of 2013, his regime was accused of Ghouta chemical attack on civilian which he denies.
Fast forward to December 2024. A storm was brewing in Syria’s northwest, where the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies launched a fierce offensive.
Within days, the rebels had seized Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city—a stunning victory. From there, they advanced southward, their sights set on the capital, Damascus.
The army did not resist. A situation which looked similar to the takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban.
As the rebels closed in, Assad’s military began to crumble. By Sunday, Damascus was no longer a fortress—it was a city under siege.
In the early morning of 8th December, 2024, rebels led by HTS entered the capital.
Their first act?
Storming the notorious Saydnaya military prison, where they freed hundreds of political prisoners. Crowds poured into the streets, their chants filling the air: "The tyrant has fled!"
Yes, Bashar al-Assad, the once unshakable ruler, had vanished. Russia confirmed the news later that day, stating that Assad had resigned and left Syria. His exact whereabouts remained a mystery, but his absence undeniable.
Standing in his place was Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, the HTS leader, who addressed the nation from Damascus with an audacious declaration: "The future is ours."
How did this stunning turn of events come to pass?
For years, Assad’s forces, backed by powerful allies like Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, seemed invincible.
Major cities were reclaimed, and the frontlines stagnated. Yet, vast regions of Syria—particularly the northwest—remained beyond government control.
This stronghold, home to over four million people, was dominated by HTS, a group born out of the al-Nusra Front, once aligned with al-Qaeda.
They had their rivals, including Turkish-backed factions, but by November 27, they united under one mission: to bring down the regime.
In a blitzkrieg-style assault, they captured Aleppo in just three days, meeting minimal resistance as Assad’s troops abandoned their posts.
The fall of Aleppo was just the beginning. The rebels pressed forward, defeating government forces in Hama, then Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, all within a matter of days.
Russian airstrikes intensified, and Iran-backed militias poured into the fray, but nothing could stem the tide. By Saturday night, Damascus itself was surrounded.
Inside the capital, panic reigned. By dawn on Sunday, it was all over. The rebels claimed Damascus, and Bashar al-Assad was gone.
But who are these rebels who now hold Syria’s future in their hands?
HTS, the leading force, is a controversial group with a complicated history. Born as al-Nusra Front, it severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016, rebranding itself as HTS.
Despite its new name, many nations, including the US and UK, still view it as a terrorist organization. Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, is a wanted man, with a $10 million bounty on his head.
Yet, HTS’s influence is undeniable, and today, they (HTS) are the de facto rulers of a shattered Syria.
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...today, they (HTS) are the de facto rulers of a shattered Syria
Now, as the world watches, the question looms: What next?
International reactions have been swift but varied.
Russia has called for calm, urging all sides to resolve disputes through dialogue. They continue to harbour the Assad family and alleged $250 million of run-away money.
Iran and Turkey have stressed the importance of stability and inclusivity in forming a new government.
Israel, meanwhile, has declared Assad’s fall a victory for its actions against Hezbollah and Iran in the region. They continue to target the strategic military establishments. Israel also took over the Syrian posts of Golan heights.
The United States has vowed to monitor developments closely, emphasizing the need for a pluralistic and democratic Syria.
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Time is more powerful than the ruler who seems invincible.
One thing is clear: this is not just the end of an era; it is the beginning of a new chapter in Syria’s turbulent history. The Assad dynasty, which once seemed eternal, is no more.
The rebels have seized their moment, but what they do with it remains to be seen.
For remaining of the dictators across the world, when the nation will overturn its history is unpredictable. Time is more powerful than the ruler who seems invincible.
May peace find its way to the people of Syria.
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