It happened gradually, then suddenly. In a stunning development over the weekend, Syrian rebel groups overthrew the dictator Bashar al-Assad, who reportedly has fled to Russia. Although almost no one anticipated such a rapid power change, everyone agrees that the implications are far-reaching for the region and beyond.
Daily Archives: December 9, 2024
Macro Briefing: 9 December 2024
The fall of Syria’s president over the weekend puts the nation on uncertain path and poses new risks for the Middle East and beyond. The overthrew of the government has resuffled the geostrategic chessboard on numerous fronts for Russia, Israel, Turkey and the US and other countries. “The Assad regime’s sudden collapse in Syria marks a profound and far-reaching geopolitical shift,” notes SpecialEurasia, a consultancy. “The rapid Syrian opposition military gains, spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have significantly altered regional political and military conditions.” Qutaiba Idlbi, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council advises: “The fall of the Assad regime presents an opportunity to address longstanding issues in Syria and the region. However, it is not a panacea and could lead to further instability if not carefully managed.”
