Last December, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s repressive regime was toppled by the rebel groups in Syria. As the country begins to reorganize, it remains unclear what direction the new government will take. 

Bashar al-Assad first came to power in Syria on July 17, 2000, just one week after the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad. While Hafez al-Assad acted as Syria’s dictator, regularly violating human rights and ordering extrajudicial killings, his son, Bashar, trained as an ophthalmologist in London. Though many believed that Bashar would lead Syria to a new, democratic age, he quickly proved himself to be a ruthless dictator. Despite al-Assad beginning his presidency in 2000 by releasing political prisoners and closing a major prison, by 2001 the regime had begun mass incarceration of opponents.

al-Assad’s repression and weak economy faced intense opposition, eventually catalyzing the Syrian Civil War in 2011. Though the war began as a series of violent protests, it escalated to full-on insurgency with the formation of several armed rebel groups across the country. The war then ascended to proxy war status, with rebels receiving aid from Gulf Cooperation States, Turkey, and some Western states, and the Syrian government being backed by Russia and Iran. In 2014, the Islamic State (ISIS) captured parts of Syria, hoping to take advantage of chaos to advance its Jihadist agenda. 

On Dec. 8, 2024, a joint rebel force composed of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army successfully captured Damascus, marking the end of the Assad regime. Bashar al-Assad escaped to Russia, where he was granted asylum. The rebels’ victory was so unprecedented that they themselves were reportedly shocked at how quickly the capital crumbled.

Syria’s future and the interests of the new leading parties are unknown. Though NPR reports that the United States has made contact with HTS, it is unlikely that a peaceful, democratic Syria will emerge. HTS was designated a terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council and seeks to impose Sharia law on Syria. It is certain, however, that relations in the Middle East will be disrupted by this new dynamic-shift in a previously chaotic area.

Article by Zev Wacks