Everything will come to an end. Sooner, or later, it's just a matter of time.
This time, the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has come to an end. After more than half a century of Assad family rule, the regime collapsed.
Largely caused by a quick offensive attacks by a coalition of rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), they entered the capital, Damascus, with little resistance. The collapse of the regime was accelerated by the withdrawal of support from key allies, like Russia and Iran, who were preoccupied with other conflicts.
The fall of the Assad regime marks the end of a brutal civil war that began in 2011, resulting in over 500,000 deaths and millions of displaced people.
Assad and his family allegedly fled to Moscow, Russia, where they have been granted asylum.
The Assad regime refers to the governance of Bashar al-Assad, who has been the President of Syria since 2000, after succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled the country for nearly 30 years.
Assad's regime has been marked by authoritarian rule, suppression of opposition, and extensive control over the country’s political, military, and social structures.
The regime’s downfall, which led to the collapse of the Assad government during the Syrian Civil War, is a complex issue.
Bashar al-Assad, who was initially seen as a more modern and reformist leader compared to his father, was criticized for not making meaningful political reforms. His government retained tight control over the country's media, military, and political life, and he continued the policies of repression, human rights abuses, and the marginalization of various groups in Syria, particularly political opponents and dissenters.
But then, his rulership was significant challenged in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings, when large protests erupted across the country calling for democratic reforms, an end to corruption, and the release of political prisoners.
The protests quickly turned into a full-scale civil war after the government, led by Bashar al-Assad, responded with violent crackdowns on protesters, including widespread use of force by the military and security forces.
This brutality led to an escalating conflict, with various factions and foreign powers becoming involved.
They include Syrian opposition groups (ranging from moderate to extremist factions), Kurdish groups (fighting for autonomy), the notorious ISIS, as well as international actors, like Russia and Iran, which have all show support for the Assad regime.
Syria on its own, might not be able to thwart the Western influence, which it calls the opposition, or containing the civil war.
While the United States, European Union, and other countries supported the opposition groups, providing them with military aid and sanctions against the regime, Russia and Iran played critical roles in sustaining Assad’s regime by providing financial support, as well as military support, including airstrikes, ground forces, and weapons.
Russia, in particular, established a military presence in Syria, including an airbase at Hmeimim and a naval base in Tartus, making it a critical ally for Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey has been involved as well, supporting various opposition factions, particularly those opposed to Kurdish forces.
By the mid-2010s, the Assad regime had reasserted control over much of the country, although significant parts of the north remained outside of its direct control.
But then, the Syrian army that was significantly weakened by years of conflict, with high casualties, defections, and draft-dodging, began to show its lack or power. After losing key cities to the rebels, as well as internal conflicts like corruption and looting, Syria also lost many of its allies' support.
Not to mention the immense international pressure that condemned Assad's human rights abuses and the use of chemical weapons also played a role in isolating the regime.
Bashar al-Assad literally lost his political control of Syria.
In the early hours of 8 December, he reportedly departed from Damascus using an undisclosed private aircraft to an unknown location.
Senior military officers later confirmed his departure from Damascus International Airport.
Government troops stationed at the facility were dismissed from their posts, and that Assad's presidential guards were also no longer stationed at his residence.
A lot of Syrians, inside Syria and abroad, especially from Syrian activists and supporters of the opposition, celebrate and show their support.
Users from all over the world also flood various social media platforms with celebratory posts, making 'Syria' one of the most trending topics worldwide.
But lots of others also show concerns, and caution about things that can potentially happen.
While there is widespread celebration, with people looting the presidential palace, astonished by the Assad's car collection, and more, some internet users are worried about the potential power vacuum can make things worse that it already is.
From the rise of extremist groups, for example.
This is because the collapse of the regime is a sudden turn of events that abruptly left Syria in a state of uncertainty.
Analysts and experts urge the international community to support a peaceful transition and reconstruction efforts, and that leaders and officials from various countries have also taken to social media to share their reactions.
The internet has played a significant role throughout the Syrian civil war and the eventual downfall of the Assad regime in several ways.
It helped with communication and coordination, and helped spread the words of the media (as well as propaganda). It also helped citizen journalism, the spread of awareness, and helped countering misinformation.
Not to mention how the internet allowed Syrian activists and rebel groups to raise funds through crowdfunding platforms. These funds were used to support their operations, purchase supplies, and provide humanitarian aid to those in need.
And for what the internet does best, is that it never forgets.
For all that matters, the internet has become the documentation of the regime, as well as the crimes that happened throughout the years in Syria.
The fall of the Assad regime marks the end of a brutal civil war that began in 2011, resulting in over 500,000 deaths and millions of displaced people. Assad and his family have fled to Moscow, where they have been granted asylum.
The internet has been a double-edged sword in many conflicts around the world, and the Syrian conflict is no exception.
As Syria embarks on a new chapter, the role of the internet will continue to be crucial in shaping its future and ensuring that the voices of its people are heard.