The Fall of Assad
Salwan Georges
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 marked a historic turning point, bringing an end to over half a century of Assad family rule, initiated by his father, Hafez al-Assad, in 1970. The collapse was the culmination of prolonged internal dissent, intensified economic deterioration, and weakening external support from key allies, primarily Russia and Iran. By 2024, Syria’s economy had been ravaged by years of conflict. The country faced hyperinflation, unemployment exceeding 50%, and widespread poverty, with over 90% of the population living below the poverty line.
Assad’s authoritarian regime, notorious for human rights abuses, had been severely weakened by a civil war triggered by the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, which led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The protracted conflict left more than 580,000 dead and approximately 13 million displaced (over half the pre-war population). The war also devastated infrastructure across major urban centers including Aleppo, Homs, and Damascus itself.
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In late 2024, a broad coalition of Syrian opposition forces, unified despite their ideological differences, launched a decisive offensive on Damascus. Assad, who had lost critical military backing from Russia due to the strain of the Ukraine conflict and was receiving diminished financial support from an economically strained Iran, fled to Moscow. His abrupt departure dramatically altered the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East, substantially weakening Iranian influence in the Levant and revealing the limits of Russian power projection amid its broader geopolitical challenges.
Following Assad’s departure, Syria is now faced with the immense challenges of national reconstruction and reconciliation. The path forward will involve rebuilding infrastructure, reviving the economy, addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of millions, and establishing political institutions capable of fostering lasting stability and peace. The international community faces crucial decisions regarding aid, reconstruction financing, and support for the transitional government to guide Syria towards recovery and future prosperity.
Since December 2024, Washington Post staff photographer Salwan Georges has traveled several times to Syria to report on the country’s reckoning with its past and its uncertain future.
