Bashar al-Assad, the ousted president of Syria, has spoken publicly for the first time since fleeing the country last week. In a statement released on his official Telegram channel, Assad explained that his departure came only after the fall of Damascus to rebel forces and condemned the new leadership as “terrorists.”
The statement follows a dramatic and sudden end to Assad’s nearly 23-year rule, as a lightning offensive spearheaded by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overran Syria’s remaining government-controlled cities in a matter of weeks. The swift collapse of Assad’s regime has stunned the world and triggered widespread celebrations among Syrians and international communities, marking the conclusion of one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century.
The Fall of Damascus
Assad’s rule came to an abrupt end when HTS-led forces captured Damascus on December 8. This milestone followed a relentless and coordinated campaign that saw rebel forces take control of key cities such as Aleppo, Homs, and Latakia. In his statement, Assad insisted that his departure was neither planned nor an act of last-minute desperation.
“Moscow requested … an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, Dec 8, after I moved to Latakia,” Assad said. Latakia, home to a critical Russian naval base, served as a temporary refuge before Assad was transported to Russia under Moscow’s protection.
Assad further justified his decision to flee, stating, “When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, any position becomes void of purpose.”
For much of the war, Assad was sustained by significant military support from Russia and Iran. However, as rebel forces closed in on the capital, even these long-time allies appeared unable—or unwilling—to save his government from collapse.
HTS Takes Center Stage
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, rooted in Syria’s branch of Al-Qaeda, has emerged as the dominant force in the country’s post-Assad landscape. The group, classified as a terrorist organization by several Western nations, has sought to moderate its rhetoric in recent years. Its leadership has pledged to protect Syria’s religious minorities and engage in governance reforms.
Despite these assurances, HTS’s past affiliations and extremist origins leave many wary of its intentions. Western governments, including Britain and the United States, have cautiously opened channels of communication with HTS while maintaining its designation as a terrorist organization.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed a guarded optimism but emphasized the importance of concrete action. “For us, it’s not only the words, but we want to see the deeds going in the right direction,” she said on Monday.
The United Nations also weighed in, with Special Envoy Geir Pedersen urging HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani to commit to a “credible and inclusive” political transition.
Prisons Open and Victims Seek Closure
The fall of Assad’s regime has brought new hope to the families of those who disappeared in Syria’s notorious prison system. As rebel forces advanced, they opened the gates of detention facilities, freeing thousands of political prisoners.
“We want our children, alive, dead, burned, ashes, buried in mass graves … just tell us,” said Ayoush Hassan, a 66-year-old mother who traveled to Saydnaya prison searching for her son. The prison, infamous for torture and executions, has symbolized the brutality of Assad’s rule.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 100,000 people died in detention centers during Assad’s regime. Survivors, like Ghazi Mohammed al-Mohammed, have recounted harrowing experiences. “Towards the end, I just wanted to die,” said Ghazi, who was arrested for reasons he never understood and stripped of his identity, reduced to a number: 3006.
For many Syrians, the regime’s fall is a bittersweet victory, offering a chance for accountability but also exposing the deep scars left by over a decade of war.
Assad’s ouster has been welcomed by world leaders who long opposed his rule. Sanctions had isolated the regime for its human rights abuses, including chemical attacks and indiscriminate bombings.
European nations are now cautiously engaging with the new leadership. The EU has announced plans to send an envoy to Damascus to establish diplomatic channels. France is dispatching a team to reclaim embassy properties and initiate contact with HTS officials.
Qatar, Turkey, and Ukraine have also pledged to assist in Syria’s rebuilding efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to send humanitarian aid, including wheat and oil, to help address Syria’s dire humanitarian crisis.
However, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges. Damascus’s interim governor, Maher Marwan, acknowledged the scale of the devastation: “The challenges we are facing right now are the massive destruction of the institutional structure in terms of human resources, local economy, and the social structure.”
Ongoing Military Strikes
Even as the dust settles in Damascus, military tensions persist. Israel has intensified airstrikes on Syrian territory, targeting military sites and infrastructure. On Monday, the Israeli military launched its heaviest strikes in more than a decade on the coastal Tartus region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strikes as defensive, emphasizing that Israel had “no interest in confronting Syria” but would act to secure its borders.
The strikes also violated a 1974 UN armistice agreement by moving Israeli troops into the buffer zone on the Golan Heights, drawing criticism from the United Nations.
Turkey, too, has carried out strikes in northern Syria, where it has long sought to suppress Kurdish militias. The shifting power dynamics in post-Assad Syria have added new layers of complexity to the region’s already volatile geopolitical landscape.
Syria’s Future in Question
As Syrians begin to reckon with the end of Assad’s regime, questions about the nation’s future remain. HTS’s promises of inclusivity and moderation have yet to be fully tested, and the group faces significant scrutiny from both domestic and international actors.
The war that began in 2011 as a peaceful uprising against Assad’s authoritarian rule has left more than 500,000 dead and displaced over half of the country’s population. The societal and physical destruction is immense, with entire cities reduced to rubble and millions of Syrians living as refugees.
The international community, while cautiously optimistic, is approaching the situation with measured steps. Kaja Kallas summed up the sentiment of many: “We can’t leave a vacuum, but we must tread carefully.”
For the Syrian people, the fall of Assad brings a moment of profound transition. The promise of freedom is now tempered by the reality of rebuilding a fractured nation. As HTS consolidates power, the world watches closely to see whether this new chapter will bring peace or simply mark the beginning of a new struggle.
