The 12-Day Revolution: How Syria’s Regime Collapsed After Years of War Opposition forces exploited internal decay and shifting alliances to dismantle Assad’s regime By Steven Ganot/The Media Line Opposition groups in Syria seized the capital Damascus on Sunday after nearly 13 years of conflict, declaring an end to President Bashar Assad’s government. The swift offensive—initiated […]
World
The Media Line: The 12-Day Revolution: How Syria’s Regime Collapsed After Years of War
Audio By Carbonatix
The 12-Day Revolution: How Syria’s Regime Collapsed After Years of War
Opposition forces exploited internal decay and shifting alliances to dismantle Assad’s regime
By Steven Ganot/The Media Line
Opposition groups in Syria seized the capital Damascus on Sunday after nearly 13 years of conflict, declaring an end to President Bashar Assad’s government. The swift offensive—initiated on November 27 by a coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), along with various Turkish-backed factions, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Southern Operations Room, and other armed groups—quickly overwhelmed pro-government forces.
Within 12 days, fighters gained control over the country’s major cities, culminating in the fall of the capital. By the time Damascus was taken, it appeared that the Assad government, which had held power since 1971, had collapsed. Officials loyal to Assad fled, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali offered to work with the new authorities, and freed prisoners stumbled into the streets. Syria’s political and territorial landscape had drastically realigned.