The Assad family's rule over Syria has come to an end. For 53 years, the Assad family held control over the Syrian government. On Sunday, rebels seized control of the capital, Damascus. Before the rebels could take over, President Bashar al-Assad had already fled to Russia.
Bashar al-Assad had been in power since 2000, following his father, Hafiz al-Assad, who ruled for 29 years. Bashar assumed power in Syria after his father's death.
The Assad family was perceived as tyrannical. When protests erupted in 2011, President Bashar tried to suppress them brutally, leading to the outbreak of civil war. The rebellion against Assad, which began in Syria 13 years ago, was instigated by a 14-year-old boy named Mouaouia Syasneh.
'Your Turn Now, Doctor'
In February 2011, anti-government messages were scribbled on the wall of a school in Dara'a, southern Syria, by Mouaouia Syasneh. He wrote, 'Ejak Al Dor, Ya Doctor,' meaning 'Your Turn Now, Doctor' in English. The 'Doctor' referred to Bashar al-Assad, as he was a trained eye surgeon before entering politics.
When Mouaouia spray-painted this message on his school wall, he probably never imagined it would ignite a civil war.
Following the graffiti incident, Mouaouia and his friends were detained by the police. They were held for 26 days by the secret police, known as 'Mukhabarat.' Mouaouia claimed he was severely tortured during this time.
Protests erupted demanding the release of Mouaouia and his friends. The Assad regime attempted to suppress these protests with gunfire and tear gas, which only intensified the unrest. Consequently, not just Dara'a, but the entire nation saw protests against Assad.
Source: aajtak
How the Civil War Began
On March 15, 2011, the 'Day of Rage' was observed for the first time throughout Syria. Massive protests erupted as people thronged the streets demanding Assad's ousting, marking the start of the civil war in Syria.
The spark for Assad's opposition in 2011 was ignited by the Arab Spring, which started in Tunisia and spread across Yemen, Egypt, and Bahrain before reaching Syria.
As citizens took to the streets against Assad, he responded with military force, brutally suppressing protests, turning peaceful demonstrations into violent confrontations. Several factions emerged, taking up arms, which escalated the conflict into a full-blown civil war.
This uprising even split the military, with some forming the 'Free Syrian Army' to stand against Assad. Terrorist groups like the Islamic State exploited these uprisings for their own gain.
Power Ends in 11 Days
The Assad family's 53-year reign over Syria concluded in just 11 days. On November 27, 11 days before their demise, fighters from the rebel group Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) began their offensive. By December 1, HTS had seized Aleppo, the largest city. By December 8, before the rebels could reach the capital, Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad had fled the country.
Source: aajtak
'Never Would Have Done It'
Thirteen years ago, Mouaouia Syasneh's actions inadvertently plunged Syria into civil war. Even today, he regrets that action.
In an Al-Jazeera documentary, Mouaouia expressed that had he known the consequences, he would never have written against President Assad. The Syrian civil war cost Mouaouia his father, friends, and many relatives.
Mouaouia's words led to a civil war that resulted in over half a million deaths in Syria, with the country facing immense devastation. Over 13 million people have been displaced due to the conflict.
