“The Fall of Bashar al-Assad: A Revolutionary Turn of Events”
In a surprising turn of events, after nearly 13 years of civil war, armed opposition forces found a golden opportunity to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Reports suggest that Turkey was informed about their plans six months prior to launching a major offensive, receiving tacit approval from Ankara.
Within a span of less than two weeks, the Syrian opposition forces swiftly captured Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria, and advanced towards Damascus, encountering minimal resistance. On the 8th of December, the curtain fell on the Assad family’s six-decade rule over Syria.
The unexpected progress of the opposition was attributed to favorable circumstances, notably the weakened and demoralized Syrian army following the withdrawal of allies.
According to diplomatic and opposition sources, the armed opposition would not have proceeded without Turkey’s knowledge. Turkey, known for its presence in northwest Syria and support for select opposition factions like the Syrian National Army, had reservations about such an attack due to the potential influx of refugees into its territory.
The bold plan executed by the opposition was reportedly conceived by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmed al-Shar’a, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani.
Despite a 2020 agreement between Turkey and Russia to de-escalate fighting in northwest Syria, Ankara initially opposed this offensive, fearing the repercussions of a new refugee wave given that it already hosts around 3 million refugees from the civil war.
The opposition perceived Ankara’s stance on Assad as hardening earlier this year after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected multiple initiatives for a political solution to the crisis. The Syrian opposition factions briefed Turkey on their plan after Ankara’s failed attempts to engage with Assad.
The message conveyed was clear: previous methods had failed over the years, so they urged Turkey to support their approach as a last resort. The coordination between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian National Army was limited before the operation, with both sides agreeing to collaborate and avoid confrontation.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking in Doha, emphasized that Erdogan’s recent efforts to communicate with Assad had been fruitless, indicating that Turkey anticipated impending changes.
As the dust settles on this historic event, the fall of Bashar al-Assad marks a significant turning point in Syria’s tumultuous journey, leaving a nation in transition and the world watching intently.