Jacobin Radio Dig: Rise and Fall of Assad’s Syria w/ Bassam Haddad
Dec 24, 2024
Bassam Haddad joins the discussion, bringing his expertise as the founding director of the Middle East program at George Mason University. He examines the rise and fall of Assad's regime and contrasts the poignant joy of Syrians during the regime's ouster with the looming geopolitical complexities. The conversation navigates through Syria's intricate political history, the role of external influences like Turkey and the U.S., and delves into the challenges facing civil society amidst ongoing conflict, revealing the multilayered dilemmas of power and resistance in the region.
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Joy and Apprehension at Assad's Fall
- Syrians feel overwhelming joy at Assad's ouster mixed with apprehension about the future.
- This complex emotional response stems from how the regime fell and who facilitated it.
HTS and Turkey Enabled Swift Rebel Advance
- Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the rapid rebel advance across Syria with Turkey's approval.
- The regime's defenses were surprisingly weak, enabling a swift rebel takeover including Damascus.
Iran-Hezbollah Distance From Assad
- Iran and Hezbollah's military capacity remains but they are reluctant to escalate in Syria.
- Assad's failure to restore Syrian defenses and refusal to reconcile pushed allies away.
