Syrian Rebels Overthrow Assad After Swift Advance, sparking joy in Damascus streets
Amid the wreckage of years of civil war, a new chapter has begun in Syria. Rebel forces have captured the capital, Damascus, and the Assad regime has collapsed.
The fall came swiftly. After a lightning advance led by a rebel coalition led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syrian government forces crumbled. On Monday, handicrafting workers affiliated with the now-defunct regime scoured Saidnaya Prison, a location where they say political prisoners remained trapped.
‘We are working hard to achieve new hope and we must be prepared for the worst,’ they stated in a statement on Monday. The hell portrait clearly
What are the implications of HTS’s ideology for the future of Syria’s political and social landscape?
**Host:** Joining us tonight is Dr. Lena Khalil, a Middle East expert from the Institute for Global Studies. Dr. Khalil, the swift collapse of the Assad regime has surprised many. What are your initial thoughts on the rebel victory and the implications for Syria’s future?
**Dr. Khalil:** The fall of Damascus is undoubtedly a turning point in Syria’s long and bloody conflict. While many celebrated the ousting of Assad, a man accused of brutal atrocities, the path forward is fraught with uncertainty. The rise of the HTS, an Islamist group with a complex history, raises serious questions about the type of government that will emerge and the potential for continued instability.
**Host:** Given HTS’s reputation, how concerned should the international community be about the possibility of extremist rule in Syria?
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