this post was submitted on 08 Dec 2024
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Summary

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, has reportedly fled the country, according to Russia and rebel forces.

His last public appearance was a week ago, and his whereabouts remain unknown, with conflicting reports about his departure and potential destination.

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[–] ChicoSuave 58 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Russia can't protect its allies. This is big. Russia has lost both military and political power. BRICS only survives because of China. Russia will implode over its economy soon too.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

"BRICS" isn't any sort of actual alliance. South Africa is rapidly approaching failed state territory while China and India have ramped up hostilities across their borders.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

And did you read the second half of the BBC article about how relations are still incredibly tense between the two? China and India are about as friendly today as the US and Russia were before the annexation of Crimea

[–] [email protected] 38 points 4 days ago (1 children)

He's not pining, he's passed on! This man is no more! He has ceased to be! He's expired and gone to meet his maker! This is a late dictator! He's a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed him to the perch, he would be pushing up the daisies! His metabolic processes are now history! He's off the twig! He's kicked the bucket, he's shuffled off the mortal coil, rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-dictator!

[–] SirSamuel 15 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Well, I'd better replace it then

Sorry gov', we're right out of dictators. I've got a slug

[–] [email protected] 24 points 4 days ago

My employer did not fire me, I quit!

🤓

[–] FlyingSquid 23 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Stepped down? So like there's a secret staircase to Minsk?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 days ago

He stepped down rapidly in a plane over Homs.

[–] Lon3star 10 points 4 days ago

More likely a window

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

40,000 feet down approximately and there's a cozy jet-fuel bonfire at the end of said staircase.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago

Is this the "He went to live in a farm upstate where he can run and play" version of Russian-aligned dictators?

[–] DaddleDew 10 points 4 days ago

sad kazoo music

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago

He's definitely left the place in pieces.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

He reminds me of the guy in the Godfather movies. He could have been a boring doctor living a quiet life but he let himself get sucked into the family business and it defined who he became.

[–] small44 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Why didn't step down from the beginning? He was forced to.

[–] hark 0 points 4 days ago

You'll see why when this new government gets established.

[–] QuarterSwede 1 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Is Syria the country Western powers wanted (and no doubt helped) a change of guard?

[–] [email protected] 24 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

No.

Western powers don't support the Sunni forces. They supported the Kurds off and on, who are one of the most democratic and multilateral governments in the middle east, but it was the Sunni forces who overthrew Assad.

The US definitely didn't like Assad using chlorine gas on civilians, and called airstrikes on his military occasionally, but Obama, Trump and Biden never strove for a regime change there.

This regime change was caused by Syrian economic issues, Turkish aid, reduced infighting between the Kurds and the Sunnis, and the collapse of Russia's illegal Wagner PMC.

[–] FlyingSquid 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] Badeendje 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Interestingly the leader of the biggest faction now.. the guy that started the steamroll. His family is originally from the Golan heights.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Mohammad_al-Julani