What's next for Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ouster?

Rebel factions in Syriathat launched an unprecedented offensive on November 27 against government forcesoverthrew President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday (Dec8)and endednearly six decades of his family's iron-fisted rule.

This is one of the most consequential turning points in West Asia for generations, as the fall of the Assad administration wiped out a bastion from which Iran and Russia exercised influence across the Arab world, a report by the news agency Reuters said on Monday.

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The Kremlin told Russian media that Assad and his family were in Moscow, having been given asylum there.

So, what is next for Syria? Here's a look

>Reuters reported that Assad's sudden overthrow at the hands of the rebel factions led byHayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) limited Iran's ability to spread weapons to its allies and could cost Russia itsMediterranean naval base.

> Both Iran and Russia have been the main supporters of the Assad administration. However, they failed to stem the tide in Syria as they are caught up in their own conflicts— Iran and its proxies in their 14-month conflict with Israel, and Russia in a war with Ukraine since late February 2022.

Also watch | Who controls what in Syria?

> A report by the Financial Times (FT) on Monday saidAssad's ouster from Syria would be welcomed by the millions of people who suffered under his rule as herefused to compromise and negotiate a political settlement with his opponents.

> During the November 27 offensive, there was coordination between the HTS and Turkish-backed factions that operate under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army, and other groups.

> With the ouster of Assad, there is a risk of intra-rebel clashes.The FT report pointed out that the HTS is only one of the numerous opposition groups that are theremnants of the original rebellion and took part in the assault.

> There are also fears that the Islamic State, which once took vast swathes of territory in Syria, would seek to exploit the chaos and make a comeback.

(With inputs from agencies)

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