Editorial: Downfall of a dictator

The collapse of Assad regime marks a turning point in Syria’s civil war, ending over five decades of his family rule

The dramatic developments in Syria leading to President Bashar al-Assad fleeing the country, in the face of rebel fighters taking control of the capital Damascus, came as a strong message to the dictators of the region that their oppressive regimes can collapse anytime. Even a week ago, it was unthinkable that Assad, ruling the country with an iron fist for nearly a quarter century, would be forced to leave the country under such circumstances. The collapse of the Assad regime is bound to have implications across the volatile region. On its part, India needs to keep a close watch on the emerging developments, particularly the moves of the new regime of Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the days ahead. Though HTS has positioned itself as a Syrian nationalist outfit after severing its links with Al Qaeda, there are reasons to be circumspect about its actions. Most countries, including India, are keeping their fingers crossed about the shape of things to come in the region. It is pertinent to recall how the Arab Spring experiment in Libya, after the fall of Gaddafi, quickly unravelled into chaos. And how in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood took control. Against this backdrop, New Delhi needs to be cautious about how things will play out in Syria post-Assad. The downfall of the Assad regime marked a historic turning point in Syria’s civil war, ending over five decades of Assad family rule. Drawing on the support from Russia, Iran and Hezbollah group, Assad had clung to power, using brutal force to suppress dissent and crush rebel opposition.

The fall of Damascus to rebel forces, following the swift captures of Aleppo, Hama and Homs, has reshaped the political and military landscape of Syria and reverberated across the region. Yet, while many Syrians celebrate the end of a repressive dictatorship, the question of what follows looms ominously. Taking advantage of the withdrawal of Russian air support and the overstretched resources of Hezbollah, the Islamist rebels advanced rapidly, isolating the regime’s strongholds. Damascus, long a symbol of Assad’s authority, fell in hours without any resistance. The implications of these developments are huge. For Iran, the loss of its key ally in Syria dismantles the strategic corridor connecting Tehran to Hezbollah in Lebanon, undermining what is called the Axis of Resistance. Hezbollah itself, weakened by its protracted war with Israel and diminished support from Damascus, now faces an uncertain future. Meanwhile, Turkey, widely suspected of tacitly backing the rebels, would now emerge as a key player. Decades of civil war have left Syria devastated, with millions displaced and critical infrastructure destroyed. In the wake of the regime’s collapse, a power vacuum threatens to deepen instability. The rebel HTS, despite its efforts to rebrand itself as a nationalist force, remains rooted in a violent past that raises fears about its governance.

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