| Part of the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives in the Syrian civil war, and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present) | |
 Syrian opposition fighters toppling an equestrian statue of Bassel al-Assad in New Aleppo | |
| Date | 8 December 2024 |
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| Location | Syria |
| Organised by | Syrian opposition |
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On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed during a major offensive by opposition forces. The offensive was spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army as part of the ongoing Syrian civil war that began with the Syrian revolution in 2011. The capture of Syria's capital, Damascus, marked the end of the Assad family's rule, which had governed Syria as a hereditary totalitarian dictatorship since Hafez al-Assad assumed power in 1971 after a successful coup d'état.
As a rebel coalition advanced towards Damascus, reports emerged that Bashar al-Assad had fled the capital aboard a plane to Russia, where he joined his family, already in exile, and was granted asylum.[3] Following his departure, opposition forces declared victory on state television. Concurrently, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his resignation and departure from Syria.[4][5][6]
The swift fall of the Assad regime was met with shock and surprise throughout the world, including with the Syrian people. Syrian opposition fighters were reportedly surprised at how quickly the Syrian government had collapsed in the wake of their offensive.[7] Analysts viewed the event as a significant blow to Iran's Axis of Resistance due to their use of Assad's Syria as a waypoint to supply arms and supplies to Hezbollah, a key ally.[8][9] Several Western academics and geopolitical commentators likened the regime's collapse to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, comparing the broader geopolitical shifts that occurred after both events.
- ^ "Moscow claims Assad fled as mystery plane leaves Russian air base in Syria". The Jerusalem Post. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ ""The Authority" controls Aleppo International Airport and many cities and towns in the northern Hama countryside amid a complete collapse of the regime forces" (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Gebeily, Maya; Azhari, Timour (8 December 2024). "Assad gets asylum in Russia, rebels sweep through Syria". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Syria Live Updates: Assad Has Resigned and Left Syria, Russia Says". The New York Times. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ "Bashar al-Assad Granted Asylum in Russia Amid Syria's Political Upheaval". The Gulf Observer. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ Fahim, Kareem; Morris, Loveday; Loveluck, Louisa; Miller, Greg; El Chamaa, Mohamad; Eski, Beril (22 December 2024). "How Syria's rebels overcame years of a bloody stalemate to topple Assad". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "The swift fall of Syria's Assad brings moments inconceivable under his iron rule". AP News. 10 December 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Gambrell, Jon (8 December 2024). "Analysis: Collapse of Syria's Assad is a blow to Iran's 'Axis of Resistance'". AP News. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ Burgess, Annika (11 December 2024). "Fall of Assad 'another nail in the coffin' for Iran's Axis of Resistance". ABC News. Retrieved 30 December 2024.