Syrian Rebel Fighters Demolish Hafez al-Assad’s Tomb

Rebel combatants in Syria have demolished the burial site of former president Hafez al-Assad, who was the father of the recently deposed president Bashar al-Assad, in the family’s native town. Footage authenticated by the BBC depicted armed individuals chanting while circulating the ablaze mausoleum located in Qardaha, situated in the north-western part of the coastal Latakia region. The insurgent forces, spearheaded by the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), executed a rapid offensive across Syria, which resulted in the overthrow of the Assad dynasty’s 54-year governance. Bashar al-Assad has sought refuge in Russia, where he and his relatives have been granted asylum. Images and effigies of the former president Hafez and his son Bashar have been removed throughout the nation, met with acclamations from Syrians commemorating the conclusion of their governance. Regarding other significant developments: During 2011, Bashar al-Assad forcefully suppressed a non-violent pro-democracy movement, initiating a destructive civil conflict that has claimed over half a million lives and displaced 12 million individuals from their residences. Hafez al-Assad governed Syria with an iron fist from 1971 until his demise in 2000, at which point authority was transferred to his son. He originated from and grew up within an Alawite family, a branch of Shia Islam and a religious minority group in Syria, predominantly concentrated in Latakia province, adjacent to the Mediterranean coast and near the Turkish border. A significant number of Alawites—comprising approximately 10% of the nation’s populace—remained steadfast adherents of the Assads throughout their extended period in office. A segment of this group now expresses apprehension about potentially becoming targets for the triumphant insurgent forces. On Monday, a delegation of rebels, including representatives from HTS and another Sunni Muslim organization, the Free Syrian Army, convened with elders in Qardaha and secured their endorsement, as reported by Reuters news agency. The insurgent delegation affixed their signatures to a document, which Reuters indicated underscored Syria’s religious and cultural heterogeneity. HTS and its associated rebel factions gained command of the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Sunday, following years of internal conflict. The leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who has since begun using his actual name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is a former jihadist who severed connections with al-Qaeda in 2016. He has recently committed to promoting tolerance among various religious groups and communities. The United Nations envoy for Syria has stated that the insurgent groups need to translate their “good messages” into tangible actions on the ground. Concurrently, the US secretary of state indicated that Washington would acknowledge and provide full backing to a prospective Syrian government, provided it originated from a trustworthy, comprehensive process that upheld minority rights. HTS has designated a provisional government, headed by Mohammed al-Bashir, who previously led the rebel administration in the north-west, to serve until March 2025. On Tuesday, Bashir presided over a meeting in Damascus, which included members of his newly formed government and individuals from Assad’s previous cabinet, to deliberate on the handover of ministerial responsibilities and governmental bodies. He has declared that it is now opportune for the populace to “enjoy stability and calm” following the dissolution of the Assad regime. In Damascus, BBC reporters have observed indications of daily life resuming normalcy, with individuals returning to their workplaces and businesses reopening. Joud Insani, employed at a chocolate shop in the Syrian capital, informed the BBC that she could open “without fear,” noting a positive shift in the clientele. She stated, “We reopened without fear because the people we serve are now not intimidating at all.” She further elaborated, “Before, everyone who came to buy from us was either there to represent a general or a minister loyal to the Assad regime. Now thank God, that is no longer the case.” Within one of Damascus’s renowned food and vegetable markets, a vendor communicated to the BBC: “Now we have oxygen in the air.” Meanwhile, another man remarked that there was “ongoing celebration from now on.” In the Joubar district, poignant reunions have occurred within the former opposition stronghold, over 90% of which has been obliterated. Monawwar al Qahef and her spouse Muhammad revisited for the initial time in 12 years. The pair wept upon observing their two-storey residence, now diminished to a mound of concrete debris surrounding a solitary arched wall. “This is the first time we dared to come back,” Muhammad stated. He added, “I feel as if it’s me that has been broken into pieces.” With supplementary reporting contributed by Lina Sinjab and Sophie Williams in Damascus. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.