Today on 8th December 2024 the Assad regime, which has controlled Syria for over half a century, has fallen.
In a stunning shift which started last Wednesday, opposition groups, led by Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in coordination with the Türkiye-backed Syria National Army, swept through much of the country from their stronghold in Idlib taking first Aleppo, then Hama and Homs and finally Damascus in the early hours of this morning. Reports suggest that other opposition groups in the south and east of the country were integral to the momentum which took control, particularly in Damascus. Assad has reportedly fled by plane to an unknown destination at the time of writing.
Speaking to friends across Syria this morning, there was a mix of so many different emotions; celebration and overwhelming joy at the taste of freedom from an authoritarian regime that has committed untold atrocities including the use of chemical weapons, targeting hospitals and schools, widespread torture, and indiscriminate use of barrel bombs, leading to the death of hundreds of thousands of people. There is also worry and fear around what will replace the Assad regime, particularly for those who felt protected by it.
The message of opposition groups, and notably that of HTS, is that Syria’s future should be determined by Syrians, that no revenge should be taken against minority groups, and that a peaceful transition of power is the goal. Actions will speak louder than words and they remain to be seen. In Damascus, the opposition have instructed no looting or damage to government buildings and the Ex-Prime Minister of Syria, Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, will supervise state institutions until they are handed over.
Certainly, an unstable period is coming before a political process and interim administration takes control. There is a risk of failure to come together and provide a genuine alternative that will unite Syrians. These sudden changes are happening in the context of regional rivalry and instability and, as Turkey, Russia and Iran meet this weekend in Qatar, it is clear that the positions of Syria’s neighbours will be hugely consequential for near-term governance and security. Syria holds a critically strategic place in the heart of the region, and what happens there affects the whole Middle East and indeed the world.
Today, there is hope and so much of it. It has been very moving to listen to Syrian friends, who had given up any thought of return, now not only seeing going back home as a possibility but gathering on the borders to do it. They talked of being able to breathe again and the hope to rebuild a new, just, diverse and more tolerant nation.
At the same time, there is a profound sense of sorrow at the loss of so many lives, homes, hopes and dreams over almost 14 years of civil war. Nothing will replace them.
At Action Syria we do not take political sides and place Syrian civilians and communities at the heart of all we do. We work with Syrian, Turkish and Lebanese NGOs to bring assistance to where it is most needed – across Syria and in neighbouring countries. We hope and pray that Syria is given the space and time it needs to heal and that the Syrian people get the peace they so richly deserve.
In the meantime, the situation for millions of Syrians remains extremely challenging and as what we hope is a brighter future for Syria is ironed out, we must not forget those whose lives continue to be affected. 16.7 million people need humanitarian assistance, 90% of the population live in poverty and 2 million Syrian refugee children are out of school. We continue to work with our brilliant partners to make sure Syrian communities get the medical care and education they need, every day and when emergencies strike.
We will be speaking to them in the coming days about needs on the ground and how we can make the most difference.
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