Statues of Hafez al-Assad torn down as Syria’s Baath regime collapses
A truck pulls the head of the toppled statue of late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad through the streets of the captured central-west city of Hama on Dec.6, 2024. (AFP Photo)
With the fall of the 61-year-old Baath regime and the end of the Assad family’s rule, statues of Hafez al-Assad, the father of Bashar al-Assad, are being torn down in various cities across Syria.
Details
- Statues of Hafez al-Assad toppled: As the clashes between opposition groups and Bashar al-Assad’s forces intensified and as major cities fell out of regime control, enormous crowds took to the streets. In several locations, they have torn down statues of Hafez al-Assad and destroyed images of his son, Bashar.
- Symbols of regime removed: From Damascus, the capital, to Latakia, the hometown of the Assad family, and in cities like Aleppo and Hama, all symbols representing the regime are being removed.
- Storming Assad’s Palace: Protesters in the capital have also stormed the palace of Bashar al-Assad, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Celebrations continue across the country.
- Speculation on Assad’s departure: International media have reported various claims about Bashar al-Assad possibly leaving the country. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have fled to Russia or other Middle Eastern countries.
- Flight tracking: Thousands of people worldwide have been tracking flights to and from Damascus and Latakia using flight tracking programs, hoping to uncover Assad’s movements.
Opposition advance in Syria
- Clashes in northern Syria: On Nov. 27, fighting began in the western rural areas of Aleppo province between Assad’s forces and opposition groups.
- Gains in Aleppo and Idlib: On Nov. 30, opposition groups captured most of Aleppo’s city center, and by the same day, they had gained full control of Idlib province.
- Hama taken by anti-regime forces: After intense clashes, opposition forces took control of Hama city center on Dec. 5.
- Advances in Homs: Opposition groups, after taking key towns in Homs province, advanced toward the capital.
- Opposition retake Daraa: On Dec. 6, opposition forces launched an operation in Daraa province and successfully recaptured the provincial capital from Assad’s forces.
- Control in the south: By Dec. 7, opposition groups had taken full control of Suwayda province and also seized the city center of Quneitra.
- Humus and Damascus: On Dec. 7, opposition forces also captured the city center of Homs and entered the southern suburbs of Damascus, making significant progress against Assad’s forces.
- Regime retreats: As the opposition forces advanced, Assad’s troops withdrew from key locations in Damascus, including the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and the international airport.
- Fall of Damascus: By the morning of December 8, as opposition groups began to control the capital, Assad’s regime quickly lost all authority over the city.
SNA operations
On Dec. 1, the Syrian National Army launched the “Dawn of Freedom” operation in the rural areas of Aleppo, targeting the PKK/YPG terrorist group. The operation successfully liberated the town of Tel Rifaat from terrorist control.
