For over five decades, the Assad family’s grip on Syria seemed unshakable. Slogans like “Our Leader Forever” symbolized the unyielding dominance of Hafez al-Assad and later his son, Bashar al-Assad. However, in a matter of days, the illusion of their invincibility crumbled as Syria’s long-time allies—Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah—turned their attention elsewhere.
The Assad regime’s downfall has been swift and dramatic. The offensive was spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, a rebranded rebel faction that launched a surprise attack from Idlib province. Within 72 hours, rebels surged into Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, a place where regime forces had once celebrated victory in 2016. This time, however, government troops were unprepared, retreating in disarray. By Saturday night, social media buzzed with reports of regime forces collapsing in Syria’s northern provinces.
The rapid chain of events caught many by surprise. While Assad’s regime had weathered years of civil war, foreign intervention, and economic collapse, it was the retreat of its allies that exposed its vulnerability. Russia, preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, had reduced its military presence in Syria. Hezbollah, which had been vital to Assad’s survival during the war, withdrew fighters to confront Israel after the October 2023 Gaza conflict, where several senior Hezbollah leaders were killed. Iran, too, faced mounting challenges as its military outposts in Syria were repeatedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
These strategic shifts left Assad’s forces exposed. The rebels capitalized on the absence of external reinforcements, capturing Aleppo and advancing southward toward Hama. The city, a significant transport hub, holds symbolic weight due to the 1982 Hama massacre, where Hafez al-Assad’s forces crushed a Muslim Brotherhood uprising. For rebels, reclaiming this city marked a powerful reversal of history.
The fall of Hama was followed by victories in Homs and Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising. Once seen as the cradle of Syria’s resistance, Daraa’s capture signaled a symbolic end to the Assad dynasty’s dominance. With rebels closing in on Damascus, the regime’s final stronghold, Assad’s options dwindled. By December 8, rebel forces had entered the capital with minimal resistance. Bashar al-Assad reportedly fled to Russia with his family, marking a humiliating end to his reign.
What once appeared to be a regime cemented by external support and internal repression was, in reality, a fragile illusion. The Assad dynasty, which endured wars, uprisings, and sanctions for 53 years, finally met its reckoning. As history often proves, no regime lasts forever.
