Italian
Damascus wakes up free: what now?
DAMASCUS. A date that will go down in history. Last night, the Syrian capital witnessed the collapse of a regime that lasted for more than two decades. Bashar al-Assad’s escape from the city marks the end of a dictatorship that has deeply shaped Syria’s destiny, but leaves a void that could be filled by either hope or chaos.
The offensive by Syrian armed groups, which began just eleven days ago, has reached the heart of Damascus with surprising speed. Even the most experienced observers of Syrian dynamics had not predicted such a rapid outcome. Is it evidence that the regime was more fragile than it appeared? Or a sign of an opposition finally organized? Answers will come in the coming days, along with many other questions.
The streets of Damascus are a mixture of celebration and caution. The images of people dancing and singing to celebrate the end of dictatorship tell a story of hope. But this euphoria hides the fear of what is to come. The specter of civil war, power vacuum, and personal vendettas is palpable.
The prime minister of the regime, Mohammad Ghazi al Jalali, has called for a peaceful transition and respect for the institutions. But recent history of the Middle East teaches us that happy endings are often the prelude to new turbulence.
Assad’s fate is currently unknown. Some say he has fled to Iran, while others speculate Russia. Wherever he seeks refuge, what remains of him is the shadow of a man who ruled with an iron fist and left a country in ruins.
Syria is at a crossroads. The fall of Assad is just the beginning of a process that could lead to the reconstruction of a devastated country or to new conflicts. The international community will have to monitor and, if possible, act to ensure that the Syrian people can finally live in peace.
Photo credits: By Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69213705
