Syria’s future must be determined by Syrians, not outside powers | Mohamad Bazzi

The Assad family’s brutal half-century reign has just ended and the US, Israel and Turkey are already vying for influence

As Syrians celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime on Sunday, three foreign powers – Israel, Turkey and the US – carried out airstrikes throughout the country. All three framed the bombings as an attempt to protect their interests after a lightning offensive by rebel fighters triggered Assad’s sudden ouster – and the withdrawal of his two main foreign protectors, Russia and Iran.

In the heady hours after Assad fled to Moscow, thousands of political prisoners were freed from the Baathist regime’s prisons and torture centers. Syrians tore down statues and photos of Assad and his father, Hafez, who took power in 1970 and turned Syria into a police state. All told, father and son had ruled Syria for 54 years. But millions of Syrians barely had time to absorb the fact that the Assad family’s reign had finally ended before it became clear that other outside actors would be jockeying to shape Syria’s future.

Mohamad Bazzi is director of the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, and a journalism professor at New York University

Topics

The US must push Putin out the Syrian door

The overthrow of Assad by rebels led by HTS in Syria represents a major opportunity for the U.S. and its allies to recognize the importance of what just happened and take the lead in the Syria ...
The Hill - 2d
Global powers trying to determine how to work with Syrian rebels

Celebrations continue in Syria as questions swirl about what the post-Assad era will look like. CBS News foreign correspondent Imtiaz Tyab reports.
CBS News - 2d
Eliminated NFL teams that need a QB: What each franchise must add to set up future signal-caller for success

A look at the current infrastructure and most glaring needs for teams eliminated from playoff contention
CBS Sports - 3d
Syrian rebels name new PM as outside powers move to shore up interests

Israel plans to create ‘sterile defensive zone’ inside southern border, and Turkey bombs Kurdish targets in north Syria. Syria’s leading rebel group has named a new prime minister to head the ...
The Guardian - 3d
Syria live: ‘The future is ours’ says Syrian rebel leader after Assad flees – latest updates

Reports from Kremlin source that Russia grants Assad and family asylum; Israeli airstrike on security complex, say regional security sources. We have some more comments from Turkey’s foreign ...
The Guardian - 6d
Now Syria can dream of a future again

The walls of fear have been destroyed — there is a new landscape of hope that has been hard to even dare to imagine
Financial Times - 6d
Syrian Forces Battle Rebels Outside Government Stronghold

The rebels have set their sights on the city of Hama, where President Bashar al-Assad’s government has long maintained strength.
The New York Times - Dec. 4
Syrian government forces and rebels battle outside key city of Hama

A government counter-attack reportedly pushed back the rebels after they reached Hama's outskirts.
BBC News - Dec. 4
The Lebanon ceasefire alone won’t bring regional peace. The Gaza war must end | Mohamad Bazzi

Biden could have achieved a ceasefire in Gaza months ago if he had truly applied pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu. Joe Biden stood in the White House Rose Garden last week to announce a ceasefire ...
The Guardian - Dec. 3