Fall of the Assad regime

Fall of the Assad regime

Part of the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives in the Syrian civil war
Syrian opposition fighters toppling an Assad regime monument in Aleppo
Date	8 December 2024
Location	Syria
Organised by	Syrian opposition
Outcome	Syrian president Bashar al-Assad flees to Russia following the fall of Damascus [1] Collapse of pro-government forces and the Syrian Arab Republic [2] The Syrian opposition takes control of Damascus and most of Syria Establishment of a Syrian transitional government Russia and Iran withdraw their remaining troops and naval forces from Syria [3] Beginning of the Israeli invasion of Syria

On 8 December 2024, Ba'athist Syria, led by President Bashar al-Assad, collapsed during a major offensive by opposition forces. The offensive was spearheaded by Tahrir al-Sham and supported mainly by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army as part of the ongoing Syrian civil war that began in 2011. The capture of Damascus marked the end of the Assad family's rule, which had governed Syria as a hereditary totalitarian regime since Hafez al-Assad assumed power in 1971 following the Corrective Revolution.

As the rebel coalition known as the Southern Operations Room advanced towards Damascus, reports emerged that Assad fled the capital aboard a plane to Russia, where he joined his family, already in exile, and was granted asylum. ^[4] Following Assad's departure, opposition forces declared victory on state television. Concurrently, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Assad's resignation and his departure from Syria. ^{[5] [6]}

Background

See also: Al-Assad family, Bashar al-Assad, and Neo-Ba'athism

The Assad family, c. 1993. Front: Anisa Makhlouf and Hafez al-Assad. Rear, left to right: Maher, Bashar, Bassel, Majd, and Bushra al-Assad.

The al-Assad family had ruled Syria since 1971, when Hafez al-Assad became the president of Syria under the Syrian Ba'ath Party. After his death in June 2000, he was succeeded by his son Bashar al-Assad. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

Hafez al-Assad built his governmental system as a bureaucracy that was marked by a distinct cult of personality, uncharacteristic in modern Syrian history. Images, portraits, quotes and praises of Assad were displayed everywhere from schools to public markets and government offices; and Hafez al-Assad was referred to as the "Immortal Leader" and the "Sanctified One" (al-Muqaddas) ^[11] in official Assadist ideology. Hafez reorganised Syrian society along militaristic lines, persistently invoked conspiratorial rhetoric on the dangers of foreign-backed plots abetted by fifth columnists, and promoted the armed forces as a central aspect of public life. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

After Hafez al-Assad's seizure of power in 1970, state propaganda promoted a new national discourse based on unifying Syrians under "a single imagined Ba'athist identity," as well as Assadism. ^[15] Fervently loyalist paramilitaries known as the Shabiha (transl. 'ghosts') deify the Assad dynasty through slogans such as "There is no God but Bashar!" and pursue psychological warfare against non-conformist populations. ^[16]

Bashar al-Assad

After Hafez al-Assad's death, his son and successor Bashar al-Assad inherited the existing personality cult, with the party hailing him as the "Young Leader" and "Hope of the People." Drawing influence from North Korea's hereditary leadership model, official propaganda in Syria ascribed divine features to the Assad family, and reveres the Assad patriarchs as the founding fathers of modern Syria. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

In 2011, the United States, European Union, and most Arab League countries called for Assad to resign following the crackdown on Arab Spring protesters during the events of the Syrian revolution, which led to the Syrian civil war. ^[17] As of 2022 ^[update] the civil war had killed around 580,000 people, of whom at least 306,000 were non-combatants. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, pro-Assad forces caused more than 90% of the civilian deaths. ^[18] The Assad government perpetrated numerous war crimes during the course of the Syrian civil war, ^[a] and Assad's army, the Syrian Arab Armed Forces, also carried out several attacks with chemical weapons. ^[24] The deadliest chemical attack was a sarin gas strike in Ghouta on 21 August 2013, which killed between 281 and 1,729 people. ^{[25] [note 1]}

In December 2013, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stated that findings from an inquiry by the UN implicated Assad in war crimes. Investigations by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and OPCW-UN IIT concluded, respectively, that the Assad government was responsible for the 2017 Khan Shaykhun sarin attack and 2018 Douma chemical attack. On 15 November 2023, France issued an arrest warrant against al-Assad over the use of banned chemical weapons against civilians in Syria. ^[39] Assad categorically denied the allegations, and accused foreign countries, especially the United States, of attempting regime change. ^[40]

Opposition takeover

Military advances

See also: Fall of Damascus, 2024 Homs offensive, and Battle of Aleppo (2024)

Map of the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives

Planning by anti-Assad forces for an offensive against Aleppo began in late 2023 but was delayed by Turkish objections. ^{[41] [42]} Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sought negotiations with the Assad government, to "determine Syria's future together," but received a negative response. ^[43]

On 7 December 2024, opposition forces secured complete control of Homs following approximately twenty-four hours of concentrated military engagement. The rapid collapse of government defences resulted in the hasty withdrawal of security forces, who destroyed sensitive documentation during their retreat. The capture granted insurgent forces control over critical transportation infrastructure, particularly the highway junction connecting Damascus to the Alawite coastal region, where both Assad's support base and Russian military installations were situated. ^[44]

Assad-allied Hezbollah forces withdrew from nearby al-Qusayr, evacuating approximately 150 armored vehicles and hundreds of fighters. The reduction in support from key allies, including Russia's diminished involvement due to its focus on its invasion of Ukraine, and Hezbollah's concurrent engagement in conflict with Israel, were believed to contribute to the government's weakened position. ^[44]

The takeover of Homs by opposition forces prompted widespread public celebrations, with residents participating in street demonstrations. Celebrants chanted anti-Assad slogans including: "Assad is gone, Homs is free" and "Long live Syria, down with Bashar al-Assad", removed government symbols which included portraits of Assad, while opposition fighters conducted victory celebrations including celebratory gunfire. ^[44]

On 7 December, Syrian rebels announced that they started surrounding Damascus after capturing nearby towns, with rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani stating that "our forces have begun implementing the final phase of encircling the capital Damascus." ^[45] The rebels started encircling the capital after capturing Al-Sanamayn, a town 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the southern entrance of Damascus. ^[46] By the evening, pro-government forces had left the towns on the outskirts of Damascus, including Jaramana, Qatana, Muadamiyat al-Sham, Darayya, Al-Kiswah, Al-Dumayr, Daraa and sites near the Mezzeh Air Base. ^[47]

The Syrian Army attempted to maintain public order through state media broadcasts, urging citizens to disregard what they termed "false news" aimed at destabilizing national security. Military leadership assured the population of their continued commitment to defending the country, though their ability to do so appeared increasingly limited. Opposition reconnaissance units penetrated the capital's defences, establishing positions in strategic locations throughout the city. Special operations teams conducted unsuccessful searches for Assad within Damascus. ^[48]

Loss of political control

"Victory of the great Syrian revolution and the fall of the criminal al-Assad regime" on Syrian state TV after the fall of Damascus to the HTS. This was its sole broadcast for several hours

In the main square of Jaramana, protestors took down a statue of Hafez al-Assad. In the evening, pro-government forces reportedly withdrew from several suburbs where large-scale protests had broken out. ^[48]

Senior Assad government officials in Damascus reportedly engaged in negotiations with opposition forces regarding potential defections. These developments coincided with Iranian officials' denial of reports suggesting Assad had fled the country, though sources indicated his whereabouts in Damascus remained unknown. Following the entrance of opposition forces, Assad's presidential guard was no longer deployed at his usual residence. By the early evening of 7 December 2024 rebel forces attempting to find Assad had found no useful intelligence on his whereabouts. ^[48]

On 8 December, Ha'yat Tahrir al-Sham announced on its official X account that it had released its prisoners from Sednaya Prison in Damascus's periphery, one of Syria's largest detention facilities. The organization deemed the release as a symbolic and strategic victory for its forces in the face of prior human rights abuses, and representative of the downfall of the Assad government's injustices. ^[50] After its capture in 2024, Tahrir al-Sham published a list of escaped prison staff, who became among the most wanted fugitives in Syria after the Assad family. ^[51]

The opposition's entry into Damascus met minimal resistance, due to an apparent lack of military dispatches to areas of the city and the rapid dissolution of government defensive positions, allowing the capture of several districts. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that opposition forces successfully seized several critical facilities in Damascus, including the state-media General Organization of Radio and TV building and Damascus International Airport. Their advances also secured control of major transportation arteries and strategic neighbourhoods, particularly the influential Mezzeh district. ^{[52] [53]}

Departures

First Lady Asma al-Assad had moved to Russia with the couple's three children about a week before opposition forces had begun their advance toward Damascus. Concurrent reports indicated that members of Assad's extended family, including relatives from his sister's lineage, took refuge in the United Arab Emirates. In the days before the opposition's advance, Egyptian and Jordanian officials were reported to have urged Bashar al-Assad to leave the country and form a government-in-exile, although the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the Jordanian embassy denied doing so. ^{[54] [55]}

In the early hours of 8 December, Assad departed from Damascus International Airport to Moscow, Russia in a private aircraft, ^{[50] [56]} after which government troops stationed at the facility were dismissed from their posts. ^[57] According to Rami Abdel Rahman (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights), Bashar al-Assad had "left Syria via Damascus international airport". ^{[58] [59]} Following efforts by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to facilitate his departure, Assad, who left under great secrecy, was reported to have gone first to the Russian-operated Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia before proceeding to Moscow. ^[60] Mikhail Ulyanov (Russia's ambassador to international organizations in Vienna) announced on Telegram that Assad and his family had been granted asylum in Russia. ^{[4] [61] [62]} The Russian government said that Assad resigned the presidency following a personal decision. ^[63] Apart from Bashar, his brother Maher al-Assad also fled abroad, flying a helicopter to Iraq before proceeding to Russia, while two of their cousins, Ehab and Eyad Makhlouf, tried to flee to Lebanon by car but were reportedly ambushed by rebels who killed Ehab and injured Eyad. ^[60]

Following the departures of members of the Assad family, videos showing groups of people entering and exploring inside Bashar al-Assad's empty residence in al-Maliki were circulated online. ^[64]

Alleged attempt to establish an Alawite state

The December 2024 Syrian rebel offensives and the subsequent fall of the Assad regime sparked renewed speculation by some analysts about a potential revival of an Alawite state with Russian backing. ^{[65] [12]} For a brief period following the rebel takeover of Damascus, Latakia Governorate and Tartous Governorate (the historical territory of the Alawite State), were the only parts of Syria not under rebel control. Some Alawite villages there formed self-defence committees and set up checkpoints, ^[39] but no expected Assadist national redoubt in the region came to fruition, probably because of the mixed attitudes of the Alawite population towards the HTS-led rebels. ^{[12] [39] [66]}

According to the UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Assad sought to establish an Alawite state on the Syrian coast as a fallback plan. ^[67] This proposed coastal statelet was reportedly intended to serve as a stronghold for his regime in the event of losing control over the rest of the country. ^{[68] [69]}

Russia, a key ally of Assad, allegedly rejected this plan, viewing it as an attempt to divide Syria. The SOHR claims that Assad subsequently fled to Russia on his plane after facing opposition to the proposal. ^{[68] [70]}

Political transition

Main article: Syrian transitional government

HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani stated on Telegram that Syrian public institutions would not immediately be given to its military forces, and would instead temporarily be held by Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali until the full political transition was completed. Al-Jalali announced in a social media video that he planned to stay in Damascus and cooperate with the Syrian people, while expressing hope that Syria could become "a normal country" and begin to engage in diplomacy with other nations. ^[56] Al-Julani called events "a new chapter in the history of the region" and condemned Syria's role as "a playground for Iranian ambitions," characterized by sectarianism and corruption. ^[71]

Mohammed al-Bashir, head of the Syrian Salvation Government, was appointed as new prime minister of the Syrian transitional government the following day. ^[72]

HTS has assured that they will protect and allow Christians and other minorities to freely practice their religion. ^{[73] [74]}

Israeli invasion

Main article: 2024 Israeli invasion of Syria

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) initiated military operations in Syria's Quneitra Governorate. Armored units advanced into the buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the rest of Syria, targeting areas including Tel Ayouba in the central Quneitra countryside with artillery fire. ^{[75] [76]} The operation marked the first time in 50 years that Israeli forces crossed the Syrian border fence, following ceasefire agreements on 31 May 1974 in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. ^[14]

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that since the Syrian Army had abandoned its positions, the 1974 border agreement with Syria had dissolved, and that to prevent any possible threat he had ordered the IDF to temporarily re-occupy the Purple Line, from which the IDF had withdrawn in 1974, until an agreement was reached with the new government in Syria. ^{[77] [78]}

Israel carried out airstrikes in Syria, targeting Khalkhala air base, the Mazzeh district of Damascus, and suspected chemical weapon storage sites. ^[79] Israel claimed to have carried out this airstrike to prevent the fall of weapons to Jihadists. ^{[80] [81] [82]}

Geopolitical impact

Assad's government was an important ally of Iran and a long-standing member of the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance. ^{[83] [84]} Following the rebel capture of Damascus, the Iranian embassy was ransacked, with portraits of Iran's leaders torn down and discarded. ^[85] Iranian diplomats and Quds Force commanders left Syria in haste. ^[85] Many Syrians reportedly held Iran and Hezbollah responsible for supporting Assad's oppressive rule. ^[86] The loss of Syria also disrupted Iran's supply routes to Hezbollah in Lebanon, weakening the group's arsenal and diminishing Iran's strategic foothold in the region. ^[83]

Western media also described the fall of Assad as damaging to Russian foreign policy, as it exposed Putin's increasing inflexibility and struggle to keep Russia's allies in Africa (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger) afloat. ^{[87] [88]} Observers considered it probable that it would affect Putin's Ukraine strategy following the forced withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria, as well as his influence in Latin America and Africa. ^{[89] [90]}

Reactions

Main article: Reactions to the fall of the Assad regime

Domestic

Opposition forces

The president of the Syrian National Coalition, Hadi al-Bahra, announced the new government December. ^{[91] [92]}

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the primary opposition force, declared Syria "liberated". The group issued proclamations via social media platforms announcing the conclusion of what they termed a "dark era" and promised a "new Syria" where "everyone lives in peace and justice prevails". Their statements specifically addressed displaced persons and former political prisoners, extending invitations for their return. ^[56]

Turkey and Turkish-backed SNA fighters in northern Syria continued their offensive against U.S.-backed SDF forces. ^{[93] [94]} On 9 December, SNA fighters captured the city of Manbij. ^[95]

Public reactions

Damascus witnessed public celebrations, particularly in the symbolic Umayyad Square, traditionally a centre of government authority housing the by-then evacuated Ministry of Defence and Syrian Armed Forces headquarters. Civilians gathered around abandoned military equipment, with social media footage documenting celebrations including music and public demonstrations. ^{[56] [96]}

In Lebanon, hundreds of people celebrated in Tripoli and Akkar, in the north of the country, and in Bar Elias, which are mostly populated by Sunni Muslims who oppose Hezbollah and the Assad government, after the fall of Damascus. ^{[97] [98]} The Syrian Ba'ath party office in Halba was stormed. ^[99]

International

Celebrations in Chittagong after Assad's fall

•   Afghanistan: The Taliban's foreign ministry congratulated the Syrian opposition and "the people of Syria", hoping for "a peaceful, unified and stable system." ^[100]
•   Algeria: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged "unity and peace among all Syrian parties to preserve the country’s security and stability and the unity and integrity of its territory," and called for dialogue between all parties involved. ^[101]
•   Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged all parties involved to respect human rights and hailed the end of the government, stating that "The fall of Assad's dictatorship ends decades of brutal oppression". Adding that "A new chapter for Syria can begin here — one free of terrorism and suffering for the Syrian people". ^[102]
•   China: A foreign ministry spokesperson said on 8 December that the Chinese government "is closely following the situation in Syria and hopes that stability will return as soon as possible" and "We urge relevant parties in Syria to ensure the safety and security of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria." ^{[103] [104] [105]}
•   Egypt: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Egypt's support for Syria's "sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity," calling on all parties in the conflict to initiate a "comprehensive political process" to establish peace. ^[100]
•   France: President Emmanuel Macron announced that "the barbaric state has fallen," and expressed France's commitment "to the security of all in the Middle East." ^[100]
•   Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the situation as "good news". Foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said that Assad "must finally be held accountable" for his atrocities against the Syrian people. ^[100]
•   Greece: In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in a statement the pressing need for peace and a seamless transition to a democratically legitimated government. The ministry also conveyed the hope that the refugee issue would be resolved and that the safe return of Syrians to their homes would be made possible by the restoration of democratic rule. ^[106]
•   India: The Indian government called for a peace process. ^[107]
•   Indonesia: Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta called on the appropriate parties to protect the safety and security of the Syrian people and guarantees that Indonesia will continue to keep a careful eye on the situation in Syria. He underlined that Indonesia believes Syrians "can start a new and better life" and respects Syria's territorial integrity. ^[108]
•   Iran: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that "determining Syria's future and making decisions about its destiny are solely the responsibility of the Syrian people." ^[100]
•   Iraq: The Iraqi government issued an official statement stressing the need to respect the free will of all Syrians, and the importance of Syria's security, territorial integrity, and maintaining its independence. ^[109]
•   Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the events and said the end of the Assad government "is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah". ^[110] The IDF maintained close surveillance of the situation, particularly regarding Iranian movements, while also claiming to have supported United Nations forces in repelling attacks by armed groups. ^[48] Israel initiated military operations in Syria's Quneitra Governorate. ^{[75] [76]}
•   Jordan: King Abdullah II stated that Jordan stands with the Syrian people and respects their will and choices. ^[100]
•   Lebanon: The Lebanese army said it was reinforcing its presence on its northern and eastern borders with Syria "in light of rapid developments." ^[111]
•   Morocco: Foreign minister Nasser Bourita expressed his support for "any political solution that would guarantee the rights of the Syrian people while preserving their sovereignty over their entire territory". ^[112]
•   Palestine: President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized the necessity of respecting the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria, expressing the full solidarity of the State of Palestine and its people with the brotherly Syrian people. ^[113]
•   Qatar: Foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was critical of Assad's lack of action on societal, economic, and political issues during the periods of reduced fighting throughout the war. In remarks about the state of the Syrian Government Al Thani emphasized the importance of establishing a new political process and engaging in diplomacy with the new Syrian government. ^[114]
•   Russia: The Foreign Ministry confirmed that Assad resigned from the presidency and departed Syria for Russia after holding talks with the parties involved in the conflict, adding that "Russia did not take part in these talks." ^{[111] [115]}
•   Sahrawi Republic: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement indicating that the Sahrawi government was closely following the developments in Syria, expressing its "sympathy and solidarity with the brotherly people of Syria". The Ministry also called for the international community to stand with Syria and its people in their efforts to build democratic institutions, while also expressing concerns over Syria's need to secure its borders and protect its interests "away from any foreign interference". ^[116] The Sahrawi Republic was recognised and maintained close relations with the Syrian Arab Republic.
•   Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "satisfaction with the positive steps" in Syria. Saudi Arabia called for "concerted efforts to preserve the unity of Syria and the cohesion of its people." ^[100]
•   South Africa: On 5 December the Department of International Relations stated that the country stood "in solidarity with the Government and people of the Syrian Arab Republic... [and] express[es] our grave concern at the offensive attack in Aleppo and Idlib by Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council, and a coalition of foreign mercenaries." ^{[117] [118]}
•   Spain: Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that "we want the Syrians to decide their future and we want it to be peaceful, stable and guaranteeing territorial integrity". ^[119]
•   Turkey: President Erdoğan expressed hope for peace and stability in Syria after thirteen years of conflict. Foreign minister Hakan Fidan said that "Syria has reached a stage where the Syrian people will shape the future of their own country." ^[100] Fidan stated at a press conference in Doha that "there was no contact with Assad in his final days," emphasizing that Erdoğan "reached out to the regime to achieve national unity and peace, but Assad rejected it." ^[120]
•   Ukraine: Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said that Assad's downfall was the inevitable result of relying on Russian support, adding that Russian president Vladimir Putin "always betrays those who rely on him." ^[100]
•   United Arab Emirates: UAE Foreign Ministry called on all Syrian parties “to prioritize wisdom" and to fulfil "the aspirations and ambitions of all segments of the Syrian population". ^[121] Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, said that Assad "failed to use the lifelines thrown to him by various Arab countries" and attributed his government's collapse as a political failure. ^[100]
•   United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he welcomes the fall of "Assad's barbaric regime" and called for "peace and stability" in Syria. ^[122] British foreign secretary David Lammy described Bashar as "the rat of Damascus, fleeing to Moscow with his tail between his legs." ^{[123] [124]}
•   United States: President Joe Biden stated in a speech that "for the first time ever neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria," and claimed credit for Assad's overthrow, stating it was largely due to a combination of international sanctions, American military presence in Syria, and support for Israeli military operations against Iran-backed groups in the region. ^[125] He further said that "some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses" and his administration will be monitoring them. ^[126] Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said that "no one should shed any tears over the end of the Assad regime", adding that the US would maintain a military presence in eastern Syria "to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS". President-elect Donald Trump said that "Assad is gone. He fled his country" due to the fact that Assad's "protector," Russia, lost interest in Syria due to its war with Ukraine. ^[100]
•   Yemen: The information minister of Yemen's internationally-recognized government, Moammar al-Eryani, condemned the Axis of Resistance, which he called Iran's "expansionist project, which used sectarian militias as tools to complete the Persian Crescent" and lauded its collapse. He added that the Yemeni people are "able to thwart the plans of Iran and its Houthi tool to violate their land and tamper with their destiny, just as those plans failed in Syria and Lebanon." ^[111]

International Governmental Organisations

•   European Union: High Representative Kaja Kallas noted that the end of Bashar's "dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development," adding that it "shows the weakness of Assad's backers, Russia and Iran." ^[100]
•   United Nations: UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen called Assad's downfall "a watershed moment in Syria's history" and expressed hope for "peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for all Syrians." ^[100]

Non-state actors

•   Hamas: Hamas congratulated the Syrian people for achieving their "aspirations for freedom and justice," and said that it "stand[s] strongly with the great people of Syria," their "will," "independence," and their "political choices." Hamas also expressed hope that the new Syrian government would continue "its historical and pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian people." ^[127]

Analysis

Senior fellow Natasha Hall at the American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies attributed the government's collapse to the weakening of Assad's traditional allies, with Russia focused on its war in Ukraine and Iran facing regional challenges. Additionally, she posited that Syria's severe economic conditions, with approximately 90 percent of the population living below the poverty line and many living in displacement camps, contributed to the erosion of government support. ^[56]

Senior analyst Jerome Drevon from the International Crisis Group remarked that it would be "extremely challenging" for the Syrian opposition to decide on a new governing system in Syria given the diversity of the rebel coalition, noting that while "some groups are more structured, more organized," others are "more local entities." ^[128]

Russian analysts and media generally blamed Assad for losing the war. Semyon Bagdasarov told Komsomolskaya Pravda that the Syrian government failed to motivate its troops and to unite the various Syrian ethnic and religious group around its cause. ^[129] Similarly, political scientist Andrey Kortunov wrote that Assad had failed to unite Syrians and achieve national reconciliation, comparing him to former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who was overthrown by the Taliban in 2021. ^[130] Journalist Vitaly Ryumshin shared this comparison, but partially defended the Syrian government, arguing that the lack of reform was due to economic sanctions on the country and loss of control over the oil resources to the United States and the Kurds. ^[131] In a different view, Anton Mardasov, a Russian expert on the Middle East, argued to Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Assad's failure was not due to Western sanctions but because of Al-Assad's failure to deal with the country's problems, specifically mentioning the economic crisis, endemic corruption and nepotism and "the loss of touch with reality and thinking in the paradigm of 50 years ago". Mardasov also told The New York Times that Russia's inability to assist Assad was due to its war with Ukraine. ^{[132] [133]} International editor of Moskovskij Komsomolets Andrei Yashlavsky blamed the Syrian Arab Army for failing to resist and argued that the army's ineffectiveness made Russia's attempt to aid Assad futile. ^[134] Russian military bloggers were particularly outraged by the fall of Syria, with some protesting against the Russian government and others blaming Assad. ^[135]

See also

• Fall of Saddam Hussein

Notes

1. Sources: ^{[19] [13] [20] [21] [22] [23]}

1. • at least 281 (French intelligence) ^[26]
   • at least 350 (UK intelligence) ^[27]
   • 355 (MSF) ^[28]
   • 494 (Damascus Media Office) ^[29]
   • 502 (SOHR) ^[30]
   • 635 (SRGC) ^[31]
   • 923 (VDC) ^[32]
   • 1,300 (SNC) ^[33]
   • 1,338 (LCC) ^[34]
   • 1,144 (SNHR) ^[35]
   • 1,429 (United States) ^{[36] [37]}
   • 1,729 (FSA) ^[38]

References

1. "Moscow claims Assad fled as mystery plane leaves Russian air base in Syria". The Jerusalem Post . 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
2. ""The Authority" controls Aleppo International Airport and many cities and towns in the northern Hama countryside amid a complete collapse of the regime forces" (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
3. Malyasov, Dylan. "Russia begins to withdraw forces from Syria". Defence Blog. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
4. Gebeily, Maya; Azhari, Timour (8 December 2024). "Assad gets asylum in Russia, rebels sweep through Syria". Reuters .
5. "Syria Live Updates: Assad Has Resigned and Left Syria, Russia Says". The New York Times . 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
6. "Bashar al-Assad Granted Asylum in Russia Amid Syria's Political Upheaval". The Gulf Observer. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
7. Eyal Zisser (2004). "Bashar al-Asad and his Regime – Between Continuity and Change". Orient. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
8. Kmak, Magdalena; Björklund, Heta (2022). Refugees and Knowledge Production: Europe's Past and Present. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. p. 73. doi:10.4324/9781003092421. ISBN   978-0-367-55206-0. S2CID   246668129.
9. Turku, Helga (2018). "3: Long-Term Security Repercussions of Attacking Cultural Property". The Destruction of Cultural Property as a Weapon of War. palgrave macmillan. p. 74. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-57282-6. ISBN   978-3-319-57282-6.
10. Darke, Diana (2010). Syria (2nd ed.). Bradt Travel Guides. p. 311. ISBN   978-1-84162-314-6.
11. Pipes, Daniel (1995). Syria Beyond the Peace Process. Washington, D.C.: Washington Institute for Near East Policy. p. 15. ISBN   0-944029-64-7.
12. Halasa, Malu; Omareen, Zaher; Mahfoud, Nawara (2014). Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline . London: Saqi Books. pp. 125, 147–156, 161. ISBN   978-0-86356-787-2.
13. Pipes, Daniel (1995). Syria Beyond the Peace Process. Washington, D.C.: Washington Institute for Near East Policy. pp. 6, 7, 13–17. ISBN   0-944029-64-7.
14. Shamaileh, Ammar (2017). Trust and Terror: Social Capital and the Use of Terrorism as a Tool of Resistance. New York: Routledge. pp. 66, 70–72, 82. ISBN   978-1-138-20173-6.
15. Carlos BC, Juan (9 December 2021). "The Assad Family Has Been Shaping Syria for 50 Years". Fair Observer. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021.
16. Phillips, Christopher (2015). The Battle for Syria: International Rivalry in the New Middle East. London: Yale University Press. p. 131. ISBN   9780300217179.
17. "The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty". AP News. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
18. "Civilian Death Toll". SNHR. September 2022. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022.
19. Robertson QC, Geoffrey (2013). "11: Justice in Demand". Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice (4th ed.). New York: The New Press. pp. 560–562, 573, 595–607. ISBN   978-1-59558-860-9.
20. Syria Freedom Support Act; Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2011. Washington DC: Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives. 2012. pp. 221–229.
21. Vohra, Anchal (16 October 2020). "Assad's Horrible War Crimes Are Finally Coming to Light Under Oath". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020.
22. "German court finds Assad regime official guilty of crimes against humanity". Daily Sabah. 13 January 2022. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022.
23. Martina Nosakhare, Whitney (15 March 2022). "Some Hope in the Struggle for Justice in Syria: European Courts Offer Survivors a Path Toward Accountability". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022.
24. • "Security Council Deems Syria's Chemical Weapon's Declaration Incomplete". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023.
    • "Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention". European Union External Action. 15 May 2023. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023.
25. "Syria's war: If this isn't a red line, what is? | The Economist". The Economist. 20 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
26. "Syria/Syrian chemical programme – National executive summary of declassified intelligence" (PDF). France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. 3 September 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
27. "Syria: Reported Chemical Weapons Use" (PDF). U.K. Joint Intelligence Organisation. 29 August 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
28. "Syria: Thousands suffering neurotoxic symptoms treated in hospitals supported by MSF". Médecins Sans Frontières. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
29. "Activists report 1,300 are killed in Syria gas attack". Buenos Aires Herald. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
30. Espo, David (31 August 2013). "Obama seeks Congressional OK for Syria strike". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
31. "Syrian opposition claims chemical attack by Assad forces kills 635". Journal of Turkish Weekly. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
32. "Latest Killed". The Violations Documenting Center in Syria. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
33. "Syrian opposition: 1,300 killed in chemical attack on Ghouta region". Al Arabiya. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
34. "Syria Today 21-8-2013". Local Coordination Committees of Syria. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
35. "The Eighth Anniversary of the Largest Chemical Weapons Attack by the Syrian Regime against Syrian Citizens in the Two Ghoutas of Damascus, Still Without Accountability". 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
36. "Government Assessment of the Syrian Government's Use of Chemical Weapons on August 21, 2013". White House. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2015– via National Archives.
37. Entous, Adam; Malas, Nour; Abushakra, Rima (22 November 2013). "As Syrian Chemical Attack Loomed, Missteps Doomed Civilians". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
38. "Bodies still being found after alleged Syria chemical attack: opposition". The Daily Star. Lebanon. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
39. "France issues arrest warrant for Syria's President Assad - source". Reuters. 15 November 2023.
40. King, Esther (2 November 2016). "Assad denies responsibility for Syrian war". Politico. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016. The Syrian president maintained he was fighting to preserve his country and criticized the West for intervening. "Good government or bad, it's not your mission" to change it, he said.
41. Dettmer, Jamie (4 December 2024). "Erdoğan's risky play in Syria". Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
42. "Rebel Groups Overrun Aleppo, Reigniting Syrian Civil War and Challenging Assad". 2 December 2024. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
43. Soylu, Ragip (6 December 2024). "Turkey's Erdogan backs rebel offensive in Syria" . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
44. "Homs falls: Rebels tighten grip as Assad regime teeters". The Express Tribune. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
45. Abdulrahim, Raja (7 December 2024). "Syria's Government Battles Multiple Rebel Uprisings". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
46. "Syrian rebels say they control the south and are approaching Damascus". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
47. "After the major withdrawal in the Damascus countryside and cities adjacent to the capital. Regime forces redeploy in the capital Damascus" (in Arabic). SOHR. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
48. Robertson, Nic (7 December 2024). "Syrian rebels edge closer to Damascus as US officials say Assad regime could fall soon: Live updates". CNN. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
49. "Syrian state TV hails 'victory' of 'revolution', fall of al-Assad".
50. الوسط, بوابة. ""رويترز": بشار الأسد غادر دمشق إلى وجهة غير معلومة". alwasat.ly (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 December 2024.
51. "Inside Bashar al-Assad's dungeons". The Economist. 9 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
52. "عاجل: هروب بشار الأسد وسقوط دمشق". Elaph - إيلاف (in Arabic). 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
53. "الأحداث تتسارع.. المعارضة تدخل دمشق والأسد يغادر لوجهة غير معلومة". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 December 2024.
54. "Egypt denies WSJ report on asking Al Assad to leave Syria". Egypt Today. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
55. "Bashar al-Assad's family left Syria for Russia amid rebel offensive-mass media". unn.ua. 6 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
56. "Assad is in Moscow after fleeing Syria and will be given asylum, Russian state media report". BBC News. 7 December 2024. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
57. Pietromarchi, Virginia; Speri, Alice. "Syrian opposition grants army soldiers amnesty after fall of al-Assad". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
58. Iskandarani, Aya (8 December 2024). "Rebels declare end of Assad rule in Syria" . Al-Monitor . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
59. "Syrian rebels enter Damascus: everything we know so far". The Guardian. 8 December 2024. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
60. "Assad's final hours in Syria: Deception, despair and flight". Reuters. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
61. "Assad is in Moscow, Russian state media reports". BBC News. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
62. "Syria Latest". Bloomberg. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
63. "Assad Chose to Resign From Syrian Presidency, Kremlin Says". The Moscow Times. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
64. السياسة (8 December 2024). "فيديو لمنزل بشار الأسد في دمشق بعد فراره". السياسة (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
65. "Experts react: Rebels have toppled the Assad regime. What's next for Syria, the Middle East, and the world?". Atlantic Council. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
66. Abouzeid, Rania (8 December 2024). "The Fall of Assad's Syria". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
67. "Final hours in power: Al-Assad gave up everyone and his plane did not accommodate military commanders and senior officials". SOHR. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
68. "Syria latest: Syrian rebel fighters set fire to tomb of Bashar al-Assad's father". BBC News. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
69. "Syria post-Assad: Alawite minority faces uncertainty under Islamist rebel control". VOA. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
70. "Iran's Plan B in post-Assad Syria to create Alawite state". Today's Zaman. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
71. Robertson, Nic (8 December 2024). "Syrian rebel leader's victory speech holds a message for Iran – and for Trump and Israel too". CNN. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
72. "Mohammed al-Bashir appointed as Syria's prime minister after Assad's fall". ilkha.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
73. "Islamist rebels seek to assure Christians in Syria's Aleppo". France 24. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
74. "Rights groups cautious about Islamist rebels' pledges to protect Syrian minorities". Voice of America. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
75. "قصف إسرائيلي على تل أيوبا في ريف القنيطرة الأوسط بسوريا". دار الهلال (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
76. Fabian, Emanuel (9 December 2024). "Reports claim Israeli tanks crossing into Syria buffer zone". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
77. Krever, Mick (8 December 2024). "Watching with trepidation and glee, Netanyahu orders military to seize Syria buffer zone". CNN. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
78. "Israel's Netanyahu declares end of Syria border agreement, orders military to seize buffer zone". The New Arab. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
79. "Suspected Israeli strikes hit a part of Damascus, two security sources say". Reuters. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
80. Peled, Anat; Keller-Lynn, Carrie; Lieber, Dov (9 December 2024). "Israeli Strikes on Syria Target Chemical Weapons, Rocket and Missile Arsenals". The Wall Street Journal .
81. "Israel carries out dozens of air strikes across Syria, reports say". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
82. Fabian, Emanuel. "Israeli strikes in Syria target weaponry it fears could be acquired by hostile forces". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
83. Gambrell, Jon (8 December 2024). "Analysis: Collapse of Syria's Assad is a blow to Iran's 'Axis of Resistance'". Associated Press .
84. Rubin, Alissa J. (8 December 2024). "With Assad's Fall, Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' Unravels". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
85. "Iran in a 'position of unprecedented weakness' after the fall of Assad in Syria". France 24. 9 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
86. Engel Rasmussen, Suse (9 December 2024). "Iran Suffers Blow of 'Historic Proportions' With Assad's Fall". The Wall Street Journal .
87. Collins, Tim (8 December 2024). "The fall of Assad is a disaster for Putin. More dominoes may fall across the Middle East". The Sunday Telegraph . Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
88. Kilner, James (8 December 2024). "Rebels' success in Syria is a humiliation for Putin – no matter how Kremlin spins it". The Sunday Telegraph .
89. Hodge, Nathan (9 December 2024). "Assad's fall is huge blow for Putin, highlighting fragility of his own rule". CNN News .
90. Scollon, Michael; Bezhan, Frud (8 December 2024). "Losing Syria is A 'Huge Slap in the Face' for Russia". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty .
91. رئيس الائتلاف الوطني السوري للعربية: أعلن لكم سقوط بشار الأسد. Al Arabiya (in Arabic). 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
92. "Bahra: Esad rejimi düştü, intikam ve misillemeye yer yok". Duvar (in Turkish). 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
93. "As Assad falls, fighting intensifying over northern Syria town". VOA News. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
94. "War Monitor Says Turkish Drone Strike Kills 11 Civilians In North Syria". Barron's. Agence France Presse. 9 December 2024.
95. "Rebels take Syrian city from U.S.-backed group after U.S.-Turkey deal, source says". Reuters. 9 December 2024.
96. Michaelson, Ruth (8 December 2024). "'Beyond our dreams': exiled Syrian activists set sights on returning home". The Guardian.
97. "'We're going to be proud to be Syrian': After the fall of Assad, L'Orient Today meets Syrians on the road to Masnaa: Live". L'Orient Today. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
98. "Celebrations in Lebanon's Tripoli over Assad regime collapse". Middle East Monitor. Live site; see entry for 8 December 2024, 09:16 Beirut Time.
99. "Syrian Baath Party office in Halba, north Lebanon, stormed, picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad thrown and trampled". This is Beirut. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
100. Nierenberg, Amelia (8 December 2024). "Governments around the globe expressed cautious optimism over the future of Syria". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
101. "L'Algérie appelle toutes les parties syriennes à l'unité et à la paix pour préserver la sécurité et la stabilité du pays". aps.dz (in French). 8 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
102. "World leaders, Trudeau hail 'fall of Assad's dictatorship' after rebels topple Syrian government". CBC News. 8 December 2024.
103. Zhuang, Sylvie (8 December 2024). "As Assad regime falls, China urges Syria to ensure safety of Chinese nationals". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
104. "China calls on Syria to ensure safety of its institutions, personnel". Al Jazeera English. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
105. "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Situation in Syria". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
106. "Greece welcomes Assad regime's fall, calls for democratic transition in Syria". Neos Kosmos . 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
107. ""Need To Preserve Syria's Unity, Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity": India". NDTV. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
108. "Indonesia Hopes Syrians Could 'Start New Life' After Regime Fall". Tempo . 10 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
109. "Iraqi government issues statement on developments in Syria". Iraqi News Agency. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
110. Berman, Lazar (8 December 2024). "Visiting Syria border, Netanyahu claims credit for process that led to Assad's fall". The Times of Israel .
111. "World reacts to Bashar al-Assad's fall, capture of Damascus". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
112. "Nasser Bourita : "Le Maroc soutient toute solution politique conforme aux aspirations du peuple syrien"". Médias24 (in French). 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
113. "Palestinian presidency expresses solidarity with Syrian people". Royanews. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
114. Mroue, Bassem; Karam, Zeina (7 December 2024). "Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive accelerates". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
115. Grove, Thomas (8 December 2024). "Assad and Family in Moscow After Fleeing Syria". The Wall Street Journal. TASS. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
116. Elhafed, Shaheed (9 December 2024). "Sahrawi government expresses its solidarity with brotherly Syrian people". Sahrawi Press Service . Retrieved 10 December 2024.
117. Fabricius, Peter (9 December 2024). "SA's ambassador in Damascus sticks to post despite Pretoria's defence of Assad". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
118. "South Africa pledges full support to efforts of UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy in Syria | South African Government". Government of South Africa. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
119. "Albares señala como prioridad garantizar la seguridad de la colonia de españoles en Siria". ABC (in Spanish). 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
120. "Turkey says new Syrian administration must be inclusive". Reuters . 8 December 2024.
121. "UAE says 'closely monitoring' ongoing developments in Syria". Al Arabiya. 9 December 2024.
122. Walker, Amy (8 December 2024). "Starmer welcomes fall of Assad's 'barbaric regime'". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
123. Wheeler, Richard (9 December 2024). "Lammy brands Assad rat of Damascus who fled to Russia with tail between his legs". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024.
124. Courea, Eleni (9 December 2024). "David Lammy calls Bashar al-Assad 'the rat of Damascus'". The Guardian.
125. "Syria Live Updates: Assad Has Arrived in Russia After Fleeing Syria, Russian Media Says". The New York Times. 8 December 2024.
126. Hubbard, Kaia (8 December 2024). "Politics Biden calls Assad's fall "moment of historic opportunity"". CBS News. CBS.
127. Agencies and ToI Staff. "Hamas, Islamic Jihad congratulate Syrians on achieving 'freedom and justice' by toppling Assad". Times of Israel. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
128. Nicholls, Catherine (8 December 2024). "Syria rebels declare Damascus 'free,' claim Assad has fled the capital". CNN. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
129. Baranov, Andrey (8 December 2024). "The Syrian cauldron could not withstand the pressure and exploded: What will happen next". Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian).
130. Kortunov, Andrey (9 December 2024). "In Syria, everything is just beginning". Kommersant (in Russian).
131. Vitaly, Ryumshin (9 December 2024). "What will happen to Syria after Assad?". Gazeta.Ru (in Russian).
132. Subbotin, Igor; Petrov, Gennady (8 December 2024). "The fall of Damascus Assad". Nezavisimaya Gazeta (in Russian).
133. Troianovski, Anton (8 December 2024). "Bogged Down in Ukraine, Russia Pays a Price in Syria". The New York Times . «Our involvement over there had a cost», a Moscow-based analyst focusing on the Middle East, Anton Mardasov, said, referring to Russia's war in Ukraine. «The cost was Syria».
134. Yashlavsky, Andrei (8 December 2024). ""Knife through butter": the prospects for the war in Syria after the fall of Damascus are named". Moskovskij Komsomolets (in Russian).
135. "Russian z-bloggers process their shock and outrage over Assad's overthrow in Syria". Meduza . 9 December 2024.