Fifty-four years of brutal dynasty rule came to an end. Its streets are flooded with citizens celebrating, the president has left the country () and the capital has fallen.
What will happen next is of great concern Syria is deeply divided, geographically and socially, and this is a moment of enormous danger.
Once the euphoria over the fall of the “tyrant” subsides, there will be deep hatred and anger towards Assad’s former loyalists after decades of murderous rule. Arresting this phenomenon will be difficult.
Syrian Christians in Sahnaya, Damascus are celebrating the revolution’s victory and liberation around a Christmas tree, church bells rang in celebration.
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral)
Who will rule Syria is unknown. Multiple rebel groups control different parts of the country and presumably all will want their own slice of power. This is a recipe for further civil war unless managed smoothly.
Syria’s prime minister, Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, remained in Damascus and offered a peaceful transition. How it is handled will be a good indicator of what is to come.
was once linked to Al Qaeda. It has disavowed these links but remains a proscribed terrorist organization by the US and other countries.
Celebrations in Damascus as Syrian opposition declares the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
— in pictures
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish)
What will Russia and Iran do?
Russia and Iran, Assad’s two main state sponsors, abandoned him when his fate seemed inevitable. However,
Moscow has key military bases on the shores of the Mediterranean, abandoning them would be a huge strategic blow.
For Iran, Syria was a central point in the axis of resistance, the funnel through which weapons were channeled to Hezbollah and vital territory in its arc of influence. But Assad and Hezbollah have now collapsed and Iran’s Shiite network of influence is in tatters.
It’s a new dawn for Syria, but there are dark clouds on the horizon.
