A Swift Rebel Advance Ends Assad’s Grip on Power
Bashar al-Assad’s government fell on Sunday, ending the Assad family’s 54-year reign in Syria. A surprise 10-day rebel offensive swept through government-held areas, culminating in the capture of Damascus and Assad’s apparent flight. The collapse marks the conclusion of Assad’s nearly 14-year struggle to retain power during a brutal civil war that claimed nearly 500,000 lives and displaced millions.
Initially hailed as a potential reformer, Assad took power in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad. His authoritarian response to 2011 Arab Spring protests plunged Syria into conflict, with Assad relying on Russian and Iranian support to hold onto power amid widespread allegations of human rights abuses.
Uncertainty Looms as Assad’s Era Ends
Despite recent signs of stabilization, including regional normalization and Arab League reinstatement, a sudden rebel offensive shattered Assad’s control. Government forces crumbled, and with Russia preoccupied by the war in Ukraine, Assad’s allies offered little intervention.
Assad’s downfall leaves Syria in an uncertain future, with no clear successor and the country deeply scarred by over a decade of war.