# The collapse of Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314 "2024-12-07T18:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/21 "2024-12-08T04:17:22Z")
An important issue is that Assad is an Alawite, which is a distinct branch of Islam, separate from the more numerous Sunni and Shia branches. The Assads have always shown favoritism towards Syria’s Alawite minority, because they believed fellow Alawites would be more loyal to the regime. But that could now boomerang if the Sunnis or Shia take charge in Syria. Alawites might now be targeted as collaborationists with the deposed regime. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/22 "2024-12-08T04:53:19Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Might not have fared much better… Googled around. Lots of internet chatter about a crash, but nothing definitive, so far. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/23 "2024-12-08T05:00:27Z")
Yeah, definitely nowhere close to definitive. Assad might not have been onboard, the flight data might have been spoofed, maybe it was deliberate radar/tracking evasion, etc. Can’t be ruled out, either, though. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/24 "2024-12-08T05:17:48Z")
[_Associated Press_ is reporting:](https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-7f65823bbf0a7bd331109e8dff419430) > **Syrian government appears to have fallen in stunning end to 50-year rule of Assad family** > > By BASSEM MROUE and ZEINA KARAM > > Updated 12:58 PM GMT+8, December 8, 2024 > > BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian government appeared to have fallen early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days. > > The head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said President Bashar Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus following the remarkably swift advance across the country. > > Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/25 "2024-12-08T05:23:49Z")
Once Assad himself physically left the capitol city, there was no reason for anyone else affiliated with the regime to bother resisting the rebels anymore. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/26 "2024-12-08T05:38:28Z")
IDF troops have entered Syria and taken up positions in the Quneitra region. > Looks like a possible attempt to grab Syrian land. For historical context Quneitra was a Caravan station in the Ottoman empire, it became part of the independent Syria in 1946 and in 1964 became the capital of Quneitra Province. On the last day of the Six day war it was conquered by Israel. It was recaptured by Syria in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War before then being recaptured by Israel. Israel then levelled the city destroying every building before handing it back a year later as required by the UN armistice, which was considered a war crime at the time by the UN (purposeful destruction of civilian property by occupying power). Syria preserved it in its destroyed state as a memorial much to Israel’s annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/27 "2024-12-08T05:45:17Z")
I can hear a lot of car horns honking and chanting on the main drag, near the Legislature building. It’s almost midnight. Suddenly occurred to me that it might be Syrian-related celebrations. We have a significant Arab population, that I think includes Syrian refugees from the civil war. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/28 "2024-12-08T06:04:19Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Once Assad himself physically left the capitol city, there was no reason for anyone else affiliated with the regime to bother resisting the rebels anymore. There certainly is: considering the brutality of the Assad regime I would expect a large number of reprisals against members of the ruling elite–so why surrender when you will surely be executed if you do so? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/29 "2024-12-08T06:25:44Z")
They’d flee, not fight. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/30 "2024-12-08T06:37:55Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Looks like a possible attempt to grab Syrian land. A land grab? Seriously? Israel has set up reinforced defensive positions along the border and inside the demilitarized zone, at least until things calm down a bit. While we’re all happy Assad is gone, there are some major concerns that the fighting will leak over the border, and even if it doesn’t, having a Jihadist state staring down at us is a troubling prospect. So yes, Israel will act to defend itself. Once things calm down a bit and diplomatic relations are established with the new government, the army will withdraw to its previous lines of defense. Nobody wants to pick a fight right now. Incidentally, there have also been reports from the last few hours of Israeli aircraft attacking Syrian chemical weapons depots. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/31 "2024-12-08T06:46:09Z")
I tuned to MSNBC a bit ago and they were running the SKY News feed. While they were interviewing a variety of people they showed what appeared to be a loop of video with people celebrating in the streets. The video loop also showed what looked like upper-class families running through the Damascus airport. The passport stations were abandoned but the bags were still being x-rayed. There wasn’t any explanation who these people were or if they were coming or going. I suppose it could have been Assad family members or family of close associates. Or it could be people who had landed and were simply in a panic. I can’t imagine there were any more flights out at that point. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/32 "2024-12-08T06:54:30Z")
More videos, speculation and rumors at: > **[The Assad Regime Has Fallen, Claims Swirl Around Possible Crash Of His Escape...](https://www.twz.com/news-features/the-assad-regime-has-fallen-claims-swirl-around-possible-crash-of-his-escape-jet)** > > In a stunning 12-day blitz, anti-regime forces have ousted Bashar al-Assad from Syrian rule. I’m not buying the jet crash guess yet. Seems more like radar evasion and then landing at the Russian enclave. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/33 "2024-12-08T07:51:19Z")
[![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GeObUIcWoAAkHRX?format=jpg&name=large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GeObUIcWoAAkHRX?format=jpg&name=large) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/34 "2024-12-08T08:07:43Z")
If Assad’s plane was indeed shot down, then it’s most likely that it was shot down by the Russians. Bashar committed the worst crime imaginable: he made Putin look bad. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/35 "2024-12-08T08:13:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is that the plural of “axe”, or the plural of “axis”? Either one seems like it can sort of but not completely make sense. “Axis” is a military term for road. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/36 "2024-12-08T13:02:38Z")
Ah, thanks, that makes sense, then. I was thinking maybe it meant something like “directions”: “All directions surrounding the city are controlled by the rebels” almost makes sense. But “roads” makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/37 "2024-12-08T13:46:40Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > He’s lucky he didn’t get the Gaddafi treatment. That’s not luck, that’s why he left to an unknown destination. Huh, i have a dozen news alerts on my phone, but none say his plane went down. I guess we’ll know more soon. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/38 "2024-12-08T13:49:51Z")
9 News alerts from al Jazeera, and 10 from combined wsj, nyt, and wapo. I feel like mainstream media is covering this. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/39 "2024-12-08T14:00:22Z")
It’s the top headline on NPR, AP, and Reuters, too. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314/40 "2024-12-08T15:13:21Z")
Per Russian sources: “Bashar al-Assad … has left the country and given orders for a peaceful transition of power” So this is what a “peaceful transition” looks like in Putin’s 1984 world. Fun fact: The US has over 1000 troops in Syria. Most in the north but a few in the south near the Jordan border. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-collapse-of-bashar-al-assad-regime-in-syria/1011314.md?page=3)