Rebels overthrow President Assad, Prime Minister calls for free elections

(CLO) Syrian rebels announced on state television that they had overthrown President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning attack, ending 50 years of rule by the Assad family. This has raised concerns about a new wave of instability in the Middle East, which is already in turmoil.

On December 8, the Syrian army command announced that President Assad's regime had ended. The army later said it would continue to fight "terrorist groups" in key cities such as Hama, Homs and the Deraa countryside.

According to senior military officials, Mr. Assad left the capital Damascus on the morning of December 8, flying to an unknown destination. Rebels said they entered the capital without encountering resistance from the army.

"We celebrate with the Syrian people the release of prisoners, the untying of chains and the declaration of the end of injustice in Sednaya prison," the rebels said, a large military prison on the outskirts of Damascus where the Syrian government has held thousands of people.

Thousands of people gathered in the main square in Damascus, waving and chanting "Freedom" after half a century of rule by the Assad family.

The leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, announced that former Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali will oversee state institutions until the power transition is complete.

People celebrate at Saadallah al-Jabiri Square in Aleppo, Syria after the Syrian army command announced that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has ended, December 8. Photo: Reuters

The fall of the Assad family would not only be a major turning point for Syria, but would also send shockwaves through the Middle East, creating further instability as the war in Gaza continues.

Western governments, long estranged from the Assad regime, will have to decide how to deal with a new government, where the HTS rebel group could wield significant influence. HTS was formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate, but severed ties with the group in 2016.

Joshua Landis, a Syria expert and director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, stressed that HTS will need support from Europe and the United States to rebuild the country and avoid the chaos that prevailed in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

As Syrians celebrated, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali called for free elections so that people could choose their own new leaders. But that would require a smooth transfer of power in a country rife with conflicting interests, from Islamist groups to international powers such as the United States, Russia and Türkiye.

While countries like the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are concerned about the rise of Islamist militant groups like HTS, Jordan has stressed the importance of maintaining stability in Syria. The White House said it is monitoring the situation and in contact with regional partners.

The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, has dragged on for years, drawing in many outside powers and causing a massive humanitarian crisis. Although the front lines had been quiet for several years, rebels, including groups formerly linked to al-Qaeda, suddenly launched an offensive that led to the collapse of the Assad regime.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/quan-noi-day-lat-do-tong-thong-assad-thu-tuong-syria-keu-goi-bau-cu-tu-do-post324658.html