Agid Meshmesh/Muaz al-Ali
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – After 23 years and five months in power, Bashar al-Assad’s rule over Syria ended on Dec. 8, 2024, when opposition factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, entered Damascus, marking the fall of his regime. Assad’s tenure, which began on July 7, 2000, following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, witnessed a series of political and social upheavals, including significant protests and uprisings, and an increasingly authoritarian government.
Assad’s rise to power was marked by a rapid constitutional amendment that allowed him to succeed his father, becoming the first Arab leader to inherit the presidency in a republic. Initially, his reign was marked by a brief period of political liberalization, known as the “Damascus Spring,” before he shifted to economic reforms that did not address the political demands of his critics. This ultimately sparked protests in 2004 and, in 2011, the eruption of the Syrian revolution.
Background and early life
Born in Damascus on Sept. 11, 1965, Bashar al-Assad grew up in an Alawite family, a minority group that held significant power in Syria. His father’s rise to power in 1970 shaped Bashar’s early years in a politically charged environment. After completing his medical studies at Damascus University, Bashar served as an officer in the Syrian armed forces and later worked as an ophthalmologist. His trajectory changed after his older brother Basil’s death in 1994, when Bashar was called back to Damascus to be groomed for leadership.
Ascension to power
Following Hafez al-Assad’s death in 2000, Bashar was quickly elevated to the rank of general and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Army. A swift constitutional amendment lowered the minimum age for the presidency from 40 to 34, allowing him to assume office. Bashar’s election made him the first Arab president to succeed his father in a republic, and he quickly consolidated his position within the Ba’ath Party.
Tensions with the U.S. and Lebanon
Bashar’s relationship with the U.S. deteriorated after the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War, with Washington accusing Syria of harboring terrorists. Tensions with Lebanon escalated after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, with the U.S. and the international community pressuring Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. After Syria’s pullout in April 2005, Bashar faced growing internal opposition, culminating in protests calling for political reform.
Syrian uprising and ongoing conflict
The 2011 Arab Spring, which sparked uprisings across the region, ignited protests in Syria. Bashar’s initial dismissal of the unrest quickly turned to violent repression, with security forces arresting and torturing protestors. Despite international offers of dialogue, the regime’s crackdown led to the collapse of any meaningful negotiations, and the conflict spiraled into a civil war.
Al-Assad was re-elected in 2007 and 2014 amid widespread accusations of electoral fraud, and he won a fourth term in 2021 under similarly dubious conditions. Despite international sanctions and military interventions, he maintained power for over two decades.
Fall of Assad’s regime
On Dec. 8, 2024, after years of ongoing conflict, opposition factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, entered Damascus, signaling the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule. His departure marks the conclusion of an era of authoritarian governance that was shaped by repression, conflict, and international isolation.