Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country on December 8, bringing an end to his nearly 14-year rule, which was marred by civil war and political turmoil.
Assad assumed power in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad. At the time, there was widespread hope that he would lead Syria towards modernization and implement reforms for the well-being of the people. However, contrary to these hopes, in 2011, Assad turned to conflict instead of reform. During the Arab Spring, he adopted a hardline stance against popular uprisings, using military force to suppress his political opponents. This escalated into a devastating civil war, which over the past 14 years resulted in nearly 500,000 deaths and displaced 23 million people.
In a sudden turn of events in late November this year, Assad’s hold on power unexpectedly crumbled. His allies withdrew their support, his armed forces collapsed rapidly, and opposition forces dramatically reached the presidential palace within just 10 days. With this, the Assad family’s 50-year reign, marked by bloodshed and oppression, came to an end
