Siria tras la caída de Bachar El Assad

On December 8, the surprising news broke: rebel forces had taken Damascus and brought down the regime of Bashar al-Assad. In the image, rebel militiamen with the flag of the new Syria at the headquarters of the no longer ruling Baath party.

Damascus soon broke out in celebration of the end of a dictatorship, that of the Assad dynasty, which ruled the country with fierce repression for decades.

Joy at the fall of a dictator, but also uncertainty: Assad was supported for years by many Western countries as the lesser evil in the face of the Islamist threat. Now power in Syria is held by an amalgam of rebel groups whose direction is unclear.

One of the symbols of Assad's power, the presidential palace, was soon taken over by rebel soldiers. Pictured here, a militiaman in the palace.

One of the questions the world is asking is: will the thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled to Europe and elsewhere return? Or will instability lead to new mass migrations?

According to international media analysis, the rebel forces are split into two main factions: one that comes from Al Qaeda (but has moderated its position in recent times) and another supported by Turkey. Will this combination lead to the emergence of an Islamist regime in Syria? Or a democratic regime with free elections?

The most visible figure of the rebels is Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al Sham group (HTS, Levant Liberation Organisation). He comes from radical fundamentalism but his discourse, in recent days, seems moderate. In the image, he celebrates his victory in Damascus on December 8.

Syria, historically recognized for its secular approach amidst a region where religious delineations hold significant sway, might be witnessing a transformation. This shift is underscored by recent developments, where, according to CNN, the Taliban in Afghanistan have expressed approval of the rebels' triumph.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is with his family in Moscow. Russian media confirmed that Putin granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds.

Analysts are trying to explain how a regime, that of the Assads (pictured, a portrait of Hafez al-Assad, father of the country's current dictator), which lasted for 50 years, could collapse at top speed in just a few days.

Bashar al-Assad had been facing a savage civil war for years. He had maintained his advantage over the rebels thanks to the support of Russia and, to a certain extent, Iran and Hezbollah. But now Russia cannot help (it is fighting in Ukraine) and Hezbollah and Iran are busy resisting the Israeli attacks. Assad was left alone.

What has happened in Syria is adding to a climate of global destabilization, in which the old balances have been shattered. We are entering into uncharted territory.

Syrian television displayed the country's new flag, with three red stars on its central stripe.

Syria is living through historic days. Another question is whether the joy of the rebels and those opposed to Assad will be followed by lasting peace or chaos.

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