Syria’s government has fallen in a stunning upset, marking the end of the 50-year rule of the Assad family. The opposition’s swift advance across government-held territory culminated in the capture of Damascus within 10 days.
President Bashar al-Assad is reported to have been overthrown, and all detainees are set free. However, the situation remains volatile as many Syrians attempt to leave the country. Thousands rushed to Syria’s border with Lebanon, but Lebanese officials closed the main crossing late Saturday, leaving them stuck in line.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed sympathy for the Syrian people, acknowledging that the situation is “changing by the minute.” The United Nations has called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.”
The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, urged caution, stating that the situation is evolving rapidly. President-elect Donald Trump stated that the US should avoid military involvement in Syria.
As Assad’s status remains unclear, his allies have been weakened by ongoing conflicts with neighboring countries. Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have seen their proxies degraded by Israeli airstrikes. The Biden administration has also indicated no intention of intervening militarily.
Despite these challenges, opposition forces continue to push forward under the leadership of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. A commander with HTS stated that the final stage of their offensive had begun, encircling Damascus and setting the stage for an “orderly political transition.”
Source: https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-7f65823bbf0a7bd331109e8dff419430