After Assad

The sudden collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime on Sunday marked a historic turning point in Syria's civil war, ending over five decades of Assad family rule.

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The fall of Damascus to rebel forces, following the swift captures of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, has reshaped the political and military landscape of Syria and reverberated across the region. Yet, while many Syrians celebrate the end of a repressive dictatorship, the question of what follows looms ominously. The Assad regime's downfall seemed unthinkable even a week ago. For years, Mr Assad, backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, had clung to power, using brutal force to suppress dissent and crush rebel opposition. But the tide shifted dramatically with the rebels' latest offensive, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Exploiting the withdrawal of Russian air support and the overstretched resources of Hezbollah, the rebels advanced rapidly, isolating the regime's strongholds. Damascus, long a symbol of Mr Assad's authority, fell in hours. The deposed President's flight