Syria Has Fallen, Assad Possibly Dead

Sunday, December 08, 2024

Rebel forces entered the Syrian capital of Damascus on Sunday after a week-long lightning offensive, with no immediate signs of government forces in the city, according to insurgent sources cited by Reuters.

Posted by madbomber at 03:33 PM | 35 COMMENTS | permalink

The Syrian government has been toppled, rebels are in charge of Damascus, and Assad is missing and possibly dead. Good roundup by Suleiman al-Khalidi, Timour Azhari, and Jaidi Taha for @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/world/middle ...

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-- Aron Lund (@aronlund.bsky.social) December 8, 2024 at 1:52 AM

Comments

It's nice to think that a tyrant can still be deposed and killed.

People like Assad are disturbingly common.

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2024-12-08 07:56 AM

It's nice to think that a tyrant can still be deposed and killed.
People like Assad are disturbingly common.
#1 | Posted by Zed

Especially in that part of the world.

US left facing a difficult situation in Syria as rebels make massive advances against Assad regime
Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, on Monday distanced the US from the offensive last week [...] "Let me be clear that the US is in no way involved in the operations you see playing out in and around Aleppo in northwestern Syria, which as you know are being led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a designated terrorist organization,"
www.cnn.com

Getting the feeling things may have just gotten worse in many ways for the world and the people of Syria.

#2 | Posted by censored

Donald has already announced that he will handle the situation by doing nothing. Except perhaps console Putin.

Get ready for a whole lot more of nothing from him.

Donald has already announced that he will handle the situation by doing nothing. Except perhaps console Putin.
Get ready for a whole lot more of nothing from him.
#3 | Posted by Zed

Honestly, that may not be a horrible strategy for now (other than the giving oral-pleasure to Poohty part).

Hopefully he keeps protecting the Kurds, as we have been, and killing ISIS. As for the rest, let the people of Syria develop their own government as they see fit and bomb the H out of anyone who presents a threat to us or our allies. Seems like the best least-worst option to me.

- boarding a plane to an unknown destination

The Mar a Lardo Express.

Syria updates: Assad in Russia, granted asylum -- reports
www.dw.com

... Rebel groups faced no resistance entering Damascus on Sunday after taking the city of Homs. Russian media report, citing unnamed Kremlin sources, that Assad is now in Moscow having gained asylum. ...

Bashar al-Assad And Family Are in Moscow: Russian News Agencies
www.themoscowtimes.com

...

Syria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow, Russian news agencies announced Sunday evening citing a Kremlin source, hours after he fled the country as Islamist-led rebels entered Damascus.

"Assad and members of his family have arrived in Moscow," the source told the TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies. "Russia granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds," he added. ...

Tangentially related, from the link in #7 ...

... A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership."

We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. ...

I wonder how long it will be before The Moscow Times goes the route of RT?

They've been guaranteed rooms in the Trump Towers Moscow, just as soon as it's built.

They've been guaranteed rooms in the Trump Towers Moscow

With the special deposed dictator surcharge of 500% plus gratuity.

"Israel captures Syrian territory after Assad regime collapse

The Israeli military captured territory on the Syrian side of the border in the Golan Heights on Sunday after the Assad regime collapsed, the IDF said in a statement.

Why it matters: This is the first time Israel has captured territory in Syria since the war in 1973"

www.axios.com

Well... that didn't take long!

"Biden says U.S. government believes Austin Tice is alive in Syria

President Biden told reporters Sunday that the U.S. believes American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for 12 years, is alive and that "we think we can get him back."

State of play:

The collapse of the Assad regime and the emptying of political prisons in Syria has raised new hope for the release of Tice, a freelance journalist who was abducted while reporting on the civil war in 2012."

www.axios.com

Sunshine on a cloudy day?

"we think we can get him back."

Don't forget to give Lewzer credit if you do. And maybe a medal.

"President Joe Biden cheered the toppling of Syria's dictatorship in remarks on Sunday, but he warned about the uncertainty during the country's political transition.

"It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country," he said from the White House's Roosevelt Room.

"It's also a moment of risk and uncertainty. As we turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk."

The U.S. will support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel, during the transition period and send senior officials to the region, Biden said.

He also pledged to continue the mission against ISIS and to ensure the security of detention facilities in Syria that hold ISIS fighters."

www.cnbc.com

'
Trump responded that what Damascus really needs is a good Hotel.

And some sneakers, guitars, and the new Fight! Fight! Fight! cologne.

He also offered the Zombie Col Muammar Gaddafi the job as Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs.

"US airstrikes hit dozens of Islamic State targets in central Syria on Sunday as President Joe Biden cautioned that Bashar al-Assad's fall from power could open the door to a resurgence of Islamic extremism.

"We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capabilities and create a safe haven," Biden said in remarks at the White House.

"We will not let that happen."

www.bloomberg.com

He's not dead the Il-76 just turned off its transponder. He's hiding in exile now.

When the HST pivots from moderation to get Western support and has power, to governance, it's going to be Afghanistan 2.0

Guess the ----- really hit the fan.

God willing they'll allow a place for the people of God to live.

I'm describing the gazans of course.

He's having a sleepover with Vlad now.

Erdogan wins big. New Ottoman Empire slowly taking shape.

Did he fall from a window?

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#4 | Posted by censored at 2024-12-08 09:04 AM
Hopefully he keeps protecting the Kurds, as we have been...

Trump has sold out Kurds before:

www.pbs.org - 'Trump betrayed us': Fleeing Kurds condemn U.S. decision to leave Syria - NPR, Oct 21, 2019

apnews.com - Trump defends decision to abandon Kurdish allies in Syria - AP, Oct. 8, 2019

|------- Trump declared U.S. troops would step aside for an expected Turkish attack on the Kurds, who have fought alongside Americans for years... Even Trump's staunchest Republican congressional allies expressed outrage at the prospect of abandoning Syrian Kurds who had fought the Islamic State group with American arms and advice.
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As for the rest, let the people of Syria develop their own government as they see fit...

Not possible under califate, or narco-terrorist regimes - see Taliban, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad etc.

www.hstoday.us - Iran's Narco-Terrorist Network: How Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and Other Proxies Use Narcotics to Fund Their War Against the West. - HS, March 1, 2024

Another issue is that Syria has chemical WMDs, which Assad has used on Syrians, and some time ago has been developing nuclear bomb, with the help of North Korea.

IDF took care of Syria's nuclear weapons program before, and is trying to deactivate chemical weapons factories and storage now:

|------- IDF conducted a series of raids around Damascus, targeting advanced weapons systems and warehouses before they fall into the hands of HST rebels who have ended the Assad regime. IAF bombed a chemical weapons storage facility and a chemical weapons factory belonging to the regime of Bashar Assad to prevent the rebels from seizing them. IDF deployed tanks and infantry to the Golan Heights to prevent an incursion by Syrian rebel forces. The military also stated it would not get involved in any internal occurrences in Syria, provided that no forces in Syria endanger Israeli security.

Israel's position has always been to avoid direct conflict with Syria, but not to permit developments regarding advanced weapons, and it has carried out thousands of air strikes within Syria since civil war started. These attacks intensified in recent months after the IDF decapitated much of Hezbollah's leadership and started to also eliminate significant Hezbollah and Iranian interests in Syria.
-------|

en.wikipedia.org - Operation Orchard / Operation Outside the Box - September 6, 2007 - Strategic bombing run to destroy the Syrian nuclear site

www.youtube.com - Operation Orchard: The Explosive Raid on Syria's Nuclear Facility - YT video doc (48 min) explaining planning and details of operation and the role of North Korea in development of Syria nuclear program
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