Silverio Omari
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country on Sunday, marking the dramatic end of his nearly 14-year struggle to maintain control as Syria descended into a brutal civil war. The conflict, which began as protests in 2011, evolved into a devastating war and a proxy battleground involving regional and global powers.
Assad’s departure sharply contrasts with his early years as president in 2000. Back then, he was seen as a potential reformer after the long rule of his father, Hafez al-Assad. At just 34 years old, Bashar, a Western-trained ophthalmologist, was perceived as a tech-savvy, mild-mannered figure, in stark contrast to the authoritarian legacy of his father.
However, when protests erupted in 2011, Assad responded with violent repression, using the same tactics his father had employed. As the situation escalated into civil war, he called on military force to crush opposition cities, backed by allies Iran and Russia. Allegations of widespread torture and extrajudicial killings in government detention centers became widespread. The conflict resulted in nearly half a million deaths and displaced millions.
In recent years, Assad’s government regained control over most of the country, though parts of the northwest remained under opposition control and the northeast was held by Kurds. Despite Western sanctions, neighboring nations began accepting Assad’s grip on power. The Arab League reinstated Syria in 2023, and Saudi Arabia resumed diplomatic relations with Syria in May.
However, the situation shifted in late November 2024 when opposition groups in northwest Syria launched a successful offensive. Government forces collapsed rapidly, and Assad’s allies, distracted by other conflicts like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing wars in Israel, hesitated to intervene forcefully.
Assad’s rise to power was shaped by tragic circumstances. His older brother Basil, originally designated as heir to their father, died in a 1994 car crash, prompting Bashar’s return from his medical practice in London. He was quickly trained in military affairs and promoted to colonel to solidify his future as ruler. After his father’s death in 2000, parliament lowered the presidential age requirement to 34, and Bashar was elected in a referendum, the sole candidate.
Bashar’s father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled for nearly 30 years with a strict, centralized economy and an oppressive political climate. He pursued a secular ideology and formed alliances with Iran and Hezbollah, while maintaining a hardline stance against Israel. Bashar, in contrast, was initially seen as a mild, reform-minded figure. He initially loosened restrictions, allowing for more open political discourse during the “Damascus Spring,” but soon cracked down on dissent after a petition for greater freedoms in 2001.
Despite his promises of reform, Assad shifted toward economic liberalization, welcoming foreign investment, and promoting a private sector-driven economy. However, Syria remained under tight authoritarian control, with Assad leaning heavily on the loyalty of his Alawite sect, a Shiite offshoot, and relying on his family members to solidify his rule.
The Arab Spring in 2011 tested Assad’s leadership, but he chose to violently suppress protests. By framing the unrest as a foreign-backed conspiracy, he garnered support from minorities who feared Sunni extremist rule. The conflict turned into a devastating civil war, with millions fleeing the country.
Assad’s family played key roles in his regime, with his brother Maher leading the brutal crackdown against protesters, and his wife, Asma, taking on significant political roles before stepping back in 2024 due to health reasons.
Despite initial optimism about his reformist potential, Bashar al-Assad’s presidency became defined by brutal repression and reliance on foreign powers to maintain control, culminating in his flight from Syria as his regime faltered in 2024.
Dj Vnyash
