Syria: The fall of Assad, and Hope for the Future

By William Letten

At the end of 2024, Bashar Assad’s brutal regime in Syria was toppled by rebel fighters. Led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant) swept across Syria. Over 12 days the rebels moved from Idlib in the Northwestern region southwards to Damascus, eventually taking control of Government institutions and forces on December 8th.

Assad’s Syria

Bashar al-Assad inherited leadership over the Syria Government from his father Hafez Al Assad in 2000. Initially, many Syrians were hopeful of the change they thought Bashar would bring, after his father’s 30 years of brutal dictatorship. However, most of this hope had faded by 2011, when Assad directly instructed his forces to open fire on demonstrators. This marked the beginning of civil war in Syria, with hundreds of different rebel groups being formed. The conflict was and still is complex and multi-faceted. Throughout the conflict, Assad was accused of many violations of human rights, notably his use of hundreds of ‘detention facilities’, where torture and mass hangings were reported by prisoners.

Ahmed al-Sharaa and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Shara’s group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS was and still is proclaimed as a terrorist group by the United Nations. The group had previously been directly affiliated with Al-Qaeda. Over the course of the overthrow of Assad, Sharaa rejected statements made by the US and the UN of the rebels, instead invoking a message of inclusivity and peace for Syria.

The transitional period after Assad’s fall is vital for Shara and his group to gain the trust and respect of the Syrian people, as well as many of the other rebel factions operating across the country. The focus now should be rebuilding and seeking justice for the horrific acts of the Assad regime. It was decided that Sharaa would be the interim President, On January 30th in an address to Syria and the world the new President stated;

‘We were determined in the past to liberate Syria, so the duty is to be determined to

build and develop it. We broke the shackles, thanks to God, and the tortured were

freed. We removed the dust of humiliation and disgrace from the shoulders of the

Levant’

What does the future look like for Syria ?

In an Al Arabiya TV interview Sharaa said that it may take up to four years to hold new elections and a new constitution may take up to three years to be written. Importantly, in this interview Sharaa reiterated that a ‘national dialogue conference’ would take place, this would ensure all factions across Syria have a voice in the formation of the new Government. The coming months and years are uncertain for Syria. Internally, power dynamics must be aligned properly. The success of the new Syrian Government is dependent on rebuilding trust with the people, as well as reforming the institutions of the country to serve the people. The question of Kurdistan, and what will happen to the region is also important. We will have to see whether the new constitution grants the Kurds full or some legal autonomy over the land.

Syria’s international reputation and role is also at stake. It will take much time and effort for the United Nations and the global community at large to recognise positive and progressive changes made by the new Syrian administration. Although the future is uncertain, it is clear that a breath of hope has swept across the region, that peace may be on the horizon.