Syria: the unthinkable occurred

The autumn of Bashar al-Assad was nearly unthinkable only a week in the past, when rebels launched their astonishing marketing campaign towards the regime from their base in Idlib, in northwest Syria.

This can be a turning level for Syria. Assad got here to energy in 2000 after the loss of life of his father Hafez, who dominated the nation for 29 years – and similar to his son, with an iron fist.

Assad Jr. inherited a tightly managed and repressive political construction, during which opposition was not tolerated.

At first, there was hope that it is likely to be completely different – ​​extra open, much less brutal. However these had been short-lived.

Assad will endlessly be remembered as the person who violently suppressed peaceable protests towards his rule in 2011, which led to a civil struggle. Greater than half 1,000,000 individuals had been killed and 6 million extra turned refugees.

With the assistance of Russia and Iran, he crushed the rebels and survived. Russia used its formidable air energy whereas Iran despatched navy advisers to Syria and Hezbollah, the militia it helps in neighboring Lebanon, deployed its well-trained fighters.

That didn't occur this time. His allies, preoccupied with their very own affairs, basically deserted him. With out their assist, his troops have been unable – and, in some locations, apparently unwilling – to cease rebels led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

First, they took Aleppo, the nation's second largest metropolis, final week, nearly with out resistance. Then Hama, and some days later, the important thing hub of Homs. With the insurgents advancing additionally from the east and south, the offensive remoted Damascus. Inside hours, fighters entered the capital, Assad's seat of energy.

The tip of the Assad household's 5 a long time of rule will reshape the stability of energy within the area.

Iran, as soon as once more, sees its affect suffered a tough blow. Syria below Assad was a part of the hyperlink between the Iranians and Hezbollah, and it was important for the switch of arms and munitions to the group.

Hezbollah itself has been severely weakened after a year-long struggle with The occupying Zionist entity and its future is unsure.

One other Iranian-backed faction, the Houthis in Yemen, have been the goal of airstrikes on a number of events. All these factions, together with militias in Iraq and Hamas in Gaza, type what Tehran describes because the Axis of Resistance, which has now been severely broken.

This new image can be celebrated in The occupying Zionist entity, the place Iran is taken into account an existential risk.

Many imagine that this offensive couldn’t have occurred with out Turkey's blessing. Turkey, which helps some rebels in Syria, has denied supporting HTS.

For a while, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been urgent Assad to start negotiations to discover a diplomatic answer to the battle that would enable the return of Syrian refugees.

At the least three million of them are in Türkiye, and it’s a delicate challenge regionally.

However Assad refused to take action.

Many individuals are blissful to see Assad go.

However what occurs subsequent? HTS has its roots in Al-Qaeda and a violent previous.

They’ve spent current years attempting to painting themselves as a nationalist power, and their current messages have had a diplomatic and conciliatory tone.

However many aren’t satisfied and are fearful about what they plan to do after the regime is toppled.

On the identical time, these dramatic adjustments may result in a harmful energy vacuum and in the end end in chaos and much more violence.