Residents of Tehran (Iran) read the front pages of newspapers, including news about the fall of Assad’s regime in Syria (Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS)
Global media are drawing parallels between the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and the ousting of former dictators in Iraq and Libya, Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi. Outlets describe the events as “historic moments” for Syria and analyze the implications of the dictator’s dramatic escape.
NV has compiled headlines and excerpts from leading media outlets worldwide, covering Assad’s downfall and the situation in Syria.
“Syrian rebels topple Assad regime” – The Financial Times
The Financial Times describes the rebels’ 12-day offensive as “stunning” and “lightning-fast,” leading to the “disgraceful end of the Assad dynasty and shaking the region.”
The outlet notes that while the news has sparked celebrations across Syria, it ushers in a period of immense uncertainty for the war-torn and fragmented country after 13 years of civil war.
The FT also highlights the blow to Russia, which had controlled air and naval bases in Syria since its 2015 intervention. Former British military attaché John Foreman called the loss of these bases a “major strategic setback” for Moscow, complicating its ability to maintain a naval presence in the Mediterranean and Red Seas to challenge NATO.
“Rebels seize Damascus as Assad flees to Moscow” – The Guardian
The Guardian showcases images from Damascus on Dec. 8, where Syrians celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, daring to dream of a better future after five decades of dynastic rule. Families reunited with loved ones lost in Assad’s notorious prison system, while others looted the presidential palace, marveling at its luxury amid a nation where 90% of the population lives in poverty.
On the road connecting Beirut to Damascus, abandoned military uniforms symbolized soldiers’ desertion upon realizing their leader had fled after 54 years of his family’s rule. The appearance of rebel leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani in the historic Umayyad Mosque, marking his first public appearance since Assad’s fall, further underscored the dramatic change.
“Syrians hail the fall of Assad” – The Times
Under this headline, The Times published images capturing the toppling of a statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father, in the coastal city of Latakia. The publication contrasted footage of Syrians looting Assad’s opulent palace with the emotional scenes of prisoners being freed from the regime’s infamous prisons.
“Syria liberated” – Tagesspiegel
German outlet Tagesspiegel calls Assad’s fall the end of “one of the Middle East’s most brutal regimes,” which used chemical weapons and torture against its own population. The outlet compares the fall of Assad’s monuments to the demise of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi, noting that while many Syrians are jubilant, others fear the rise of a different despotic regime under Islamist rebels.
Israeli analyst Udi Evental described Assad’s fall as a “regional earthquake” that could lead to aftershocks, particularly for Iran, which used Syria as a corridor to arm Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Historic moments in Syria: ‘We’re celebrating, and how!'” – Die Welt
“After 13 years of civil war, the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has fallen. Rebels aim to take power peacefully, and celebrations are filling the streets,” writes the German publication Die Welt.
Part of the report includes an account from Die Welt’s correspondent at the Semalka border crossing between Iraq and Syria. There, he witnessed the emotions of Syrian Kurds, who were overjoyed at Assad’s downfall.
“It’s like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders,” the outlet quotes a man named Rahman, whose wife recently gave birth to their second child. “We’re celebrating, and how!” Rahman says with a laugh. “Now my children have a future. With Assad, that would have been impossible.”
“In Syria, a new era as Assad’s regime falls” – The Washington Post
The Washington Post highlights the mix of euphoria and uncertainty following the rebels’ capture of Damascus, which concluded a lightning offensive and forced Assad into exile in Russia. The outlet underscores the lack of resistance during the takeover, emphasizing that Damascus fell “almost without a fight.”
The article also points out the regional apprehension over the rebel forces now in control, previously known for infighting and extremism. The rebels managed to unite factions to portray themselves as responsible stewards of Syria’s future.
“Al-Assad toppled by Syrian rebels after 13-year war” – The New York Times
The New York Times analyzes the regional impact, calling the collapse of Iran’s “axis of resistance” a major strategic loss. Assad’s fall follows Israeli strikes on Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, weakening Tehran’s influence in the region.
While Iranian-linked militias in Iraq and Yemen remain intact, the NYT argues that restoring the alliance to its former strength would likely take years.
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