UNSC hold Emergency Meeting on Syria: In view of the current developments in Syria, the United Nations Security Council has called an emergency meeting today (9 December 2024). This meeting will start some time today. Let us tell you that Syrian rebels captured the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday (8 December). With this, the 50-year long rule of the Assad family ended here and the 24-year long rule of Bashar al-Assad as President ended.
The Syrian president was forced to flee the country to an undisclosed location as rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria’s most powerful rebel group, entered the capital city on Sunday. Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali agreed to cooperate with the rebels and said they would ensure a peaceful transition. Having said this, HTS chief Abu Mohammed al-Julani ordered his troops to stay away from public constituencies until the official handover from the prime minister was completed.
Major updates related to Syrian civil war
1. Civil war started in Syria in 2011. Ultimately, after a long struggle, it was successful in eliminating the government of Bashar al-Assad. Bashar al-Assad’s government remained intact due to the support of Russia and Iran. On 27 November, HTS started the war afresh.
2. After long setting their sights on the capital city, rebels captured four major cities – Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs – in the first 24 hours. Then it took the final major step, opposition forces entered Damascus and captured the city.
3. Rebels captured the capital on 8 December. After this, Syrian President Bashar was forced to leave the country.
4. After Assad’s ouster, Syrians celebrated the end of his repressive rule. “My brothers, this victory is historic. Syria is ours, not the Assad family,” HTS chief al-Julani said in Damascus.
5. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported 910 deaths in the fighting since the beginning of the rebel offensive on November 27 as of December 8, including 138 civilians, 380 Syrian soldiers and allied fighters, and 392 Rebels are involved.
6. Many countries have welcomed the change in control in Syria. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the end of Assad’s rule was good news. What matters now is that law and order be quickly restored in Syria.
7. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed the fall of Assad’s “barbaric regime”, saying the UK calls on all parties to protect civilians and minorities and ensure that the most vulnerable are protected in the coming hours and days. Necessary help can reach people.
8. In the United States, President-elect Donald Trump made it clear on Saturday that the US should have nothing to do with the war in Syria, saying “this is not our fight”. However, President Joe Biden praised Assad’s fall and called it a fundamental act of justice. He said this was a historic opportunity for the Syrian people to rebuild their nation.
9. As celebrations continued over Assad’s fall, reports from Russia said Moscow has granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad and his family. TASS news agency, citing a Kremlin source, said that this decision was inspired by humanitarian considerations.
