On Sunday, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, where he’s been granted political asylum. This comes after rebels seized Damascus, Syria’s capital city, on that same day.

Assad’s fall from power marks the end of 50 years of brutal rule by his family. His father, Hafez al-Assad, a longtime military officer, was known for his iron fist.

Joshua Landis is the head of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, and a leading expert on Syria.

He explains the significance of Bashar al-Assad’s fall, and looks back on the Assad family’s half a century in power.

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