Bashar al-Assad Resigns: A New Chapter for Syria

On Sunday, Russia announced that Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, has decided to resign and leave the country. This comes after a long civil war that lasted nearly 14 years, during which Assad’s government was challenged by rebel forces.

According to Russia’s foreign ministry, Assad had discussions with several parties involved in the conflict before making this decision. Although Russia claimed he instructed his team on how to peacefully hand over power, they said they were not part of these talks.

Reports say that Assad flew out of Damascus, the capital, just as rebel fighters were entering the city. No one knows where he went, and his family’s whereabouts—including his wife Asma and their two children—are also unclear.

The news of Assad’s resignation sparked celebrations across Syria. Many people celebrated by pulling down statues of his father, Hafez al-Assad, and his late brother, Bassel. In some places, crowds ransacked Assad’s palaces, stealing chairs and other furniture.

Bashar al-Assad has been in power since 2000 after taking over from his father, who ruled from 1970. Since 2011, he has been known for harshly stopping protests that called for more democracy in the country.