Syria has fallen 🇸🇾

Rebels seized control of Syria, ending a decade long conflict to oust the country’s dictatorial leader and president, Bashar Al Assad.

Assad, along with his family, fled the country and is now known to be taking refuge in Moscow, Russia.

Backstory: the Assad family has ruled Syria for over 50 years, against violent opposition by various local political and religious groups. Bashar inherited the office from his father at the age of 34, and for a while was looked at as a beacon of change.

But he extended his father’s legacy, taking extreme measures to retain control for the family. Civil war broke out in 2011, and since then nearly 500,000 Syrians have died, with half the country displaced.

Context:

• Under Assad, Syria also took an anti-Israel stand, which makes him not so friendly to the Americans.
• He was pretty close to the Russians and Iran, who supported Assad throughout to keep the rebels under control.

Here’s incredible coverage from India Today for those looking to dive deeper.

Looking ahead: the rebels are now rejoicing, citing end to years of brutal rule. But toppling a leader and running a state are two different things.

Whether the rebel groups can unite to form a government is to be figured out. It is a big ask.

Big picture: the global geo-political landscape continues to worsen, particularly in the middle east. For example, Israel, which shares a border with Syria, took the opportunity to get into Syria and fight the rebels to stop expansion.

Worth noting: India asked a few hundred nationals in the country to immediately leave Syria. Mostly diplomats or blue collar workers. FYI, India did enjoy positive relations with the nation.