“After 50 years of injustice”
Syrian state broadcaster announces: “Syria is free”
After the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, a Syrian news channel proclaims Syria’s freedom and a better future for the country “after 50 years of injustice.”
Bashar al-Assad ruled Syria for almost a quarter of a century and clung to power during more than a decade of civil war. But the surprising offensive that Islamist fighters from the Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militia and allied associations began on November 27th put an end to his rule within just a few days. The Islamist fighters conquered Damascus at the weekend – Assad had to flee.
“The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled,” the Islamist fighters announced. Their invasion of the capital Damascus means “the end of this dark time and the beginning of a new era for Syria.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, known for its good information, said Assad left Syria through Damascus international airport. And Russia, a loyal ally of Assad, also confirmed that the Syrian leader had fled abroad.
The 59-year-old took power in the country in 2000 from his recently deceased father Hafez al-Assad. His older brother Bassel was originally chosen as his successor, but he died in a car accident in 1994. Bashar therefore gave up his medical studies in London and returned home.
Syria: Assad secured power with Russia’s help
To stay in power in the civil war, Assad sought support not only from Iran and the pro-Iran Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, but also from Russia. Moscow’s intervention with massive air strikes in Syria kept Assad in power in 2015. He presented himself to the people and abroad as Syria’s only possible ruler in the face of the threat from Islamist “terrorists.”
Assad has also repeatedly claimed that the civil war in Syria is being orchestrated by foreign powers. He renewed this accusation after the start of the surprise offensive by Islamist fighters around HTS at the end of November. “The terrorist escalation reflects the long-term goals of dividing the region and fragmenting the countries within it and redrawing the map in accordance with the goals of the US and the West,” he said shortly before.
Assad still believed in the strength of his troops. Now that he has had to flee the country, he will also have to come to terms with the fact that, after decades of relentless rule, he has not only lost the support of the Syrian people, but also the unconditional support of the army that he believed to be safe.
AFP
mth
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
