By Julian Cross

In the early hours of December 8, 2024, the ancient city of Damascus awoke to the echoes of a new era. Rebel forces, after years of relentless conflict, entered the Syrian capital with minimal resistance, signaling the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The streets, once silenced by fear, erupted into jubilant celebrations. Thousands gathered, their voices unified in chants of freedom, as the oppressive shadow of Assad's nearly 25-year rule lifted. The liberation of prisoners from the notorious Sednaya prison further fueled the public's elation, marking a definitive end to decades of repression.

Amidst the euphoria, the whereabouts of Assad became a subject of intense speculation. Reports indicated that he had fled to Moscow under Russian protection, leaving his nation in turmoil.

The rapid advance of rebel forces, capturing key cities like Homs with unprecedented speed, underscored the regime's swift disintegration.

In the heart of Damascus, the atmosphere was electric. Citizens, long subdued by authoritarian rule, expressed a complex tapestry of emotions—relief, joy, and cautious optimism for the future. The fall of Assad's regime not only reshaped the political landscape of Syria but also sent ripples across the geopolitical fabric of the Middle East, prompting reactions from global powers and neighbouring states.

In the wake of President Bashar al-Assad's departure, the Syrian Arab Army, once a formidable force, experienced a rapid and unprecedented disintegration. As rebel factions advanced toward Damascus, government troops, demoralised and lacking cohesive leadership, abandoned their posts en masse. The swift collapse of military defences facilitated the rebels' unimpeded entry into the capital, marking a decisive end to Assad's 24-year rule.

The disarray within the army was compounded by the sudden absence of Assad, who, facing the inevitability of defeat, sought asylum in Moscow. His departure left a leadership vacuum, further accelerating the army's fragmentation. Reports indicate that Russian intermediaries facilitated Assad's exit, ensuring his safe passage to Russia, where he and his family have been granted asylum.

In the aftermath, Damascus has become a city of contrasts. While many citizens celebrate the end of an era marked by repression, there is an undercurrent of uncertainty. The sudden power shift has left a security void, with various rebel factions vying for control. The international community watches closely, aware that the future stability of Syria hangs in the balance.

Lessons in tyranny

For half a century, the Assad regime reigned over Syria with a clenched fist, its grip seemingly ironclad. Beginning with Hafez al-Assad's rise to power in 1970, the country endured decades of authoritarian rule that only deepened under his son, Bashar. The Assad dynasty relied on a brutal network of secret police, military force, and patronage to maintain its hold on power. Torture chambers, mass imprisonments, and the suppression of dissent became the hallmarks of its governance, as countless Syrians vanished into the shadows of state-sponsored terror. The regime's atrocities during the civil war—barrel bombs, chemical attacks, and sieges—etched its name in the annals of infamy.

Yet, as with all tyrannies, the illusion of invincibility was shattered in an instant. Dictators appear unassailable only until the moment they are not. Bashar al-Assad, whose control once seemed as immovable as Damascus's ancient walls, now finds himself a fugitive under the protection of Moscow. His fall serves as a grim reminder that power built on fear is always precarious. The sudden unraveling of his regime echoes lessons from history: no fortress, no matter how fortified, is impervious to the tides of change.

In this, there is a lesson for Assad's host, Vladimir Putin, who has staked his own rule on the manipulation of fear and the suppression of opposition. As Russia increasingly isolates itself and internal dissent bubbles beneath the surface, Assad's fate looms as a cautionary tale. For Putin, the fall of Damascus should serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of authoritarian regimes. The veneer of control can be stripped away in moments, leaving even the most entrenched leaders vulnerable.