Bashar al-Assad fled Syria for Russia on Sunday, December 8th, following the collapse of his regime due to years of civil war, and economic turmoil. Bashar became Syria’s 19th president after the death of his father, Hafez-al-Assad, who had ruled the country for nearly three decades. Hafez served as president of Syria from 1971 to 2000.
[RESPONSE]
After the fall of Assad’s regime, Assad and his family were allegedly g ranted asylum in Russia. Opposition forces, such as the Free Syria Army (FSA), Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), National Liberation Front (NLF), Jaysh al-Islam, and Ahrar al-Sham and a multitude of other rebel groups were vying for control over Damascus. However, on Tuesday, December 24th, Al-Julani, leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swiftly took control of Damascus and ultimately decided to merge all militant factions under the Syrian Defense Ministry.
Where and when:
Assad fled Syria on December 18th, 2024, his departure to Russia coincided with intense fighting in Damascus.
Why it matters:
Assad’s unexpected departure signals the end of over a decade of terror, defined by civil war and widespread human rights abuses, ultimately this circumstance could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. However, whoever controls Syria now faces the challenges of developing a stable government amid lingering conflict.
SOURCES:
“ТАСС: Асад с Семьей Прибыл в Москву ‘TACC: Assad and His Family Arrived in Moscow.’” TACC, 2024, tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/22612655.