Iran 'accepted the fall of Assad,' world leaders applaud fall of 'brutal' regime

Iran has turned its back and abandoned its ally Syria as opposition forces topple the regime, an exclusive New York Times report on Saturday revealed.

According to an internal memo from a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps that the NYT viewed, the situation in Syria was described as “unbelievable and strange.” It is as if “Iran accepted the fall of Assad and has lost the will to resist,” the memo said.

In addition, Iran's media had switched from calling the Sunni rebels “infidel terrorists” to “armed groups” and reported that they had so far treated Shiite minorities well, the NYT reported.

Iran has admitted that the current setbacks to the Syrian regime are a challenge for its regional “axis of resistance,” which consists of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, Iraqi militias, the Syrian regime, and other groups.

According to the exclusive, Iran has supported Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, for decades, helping him survive a civil war that threatened his dynastic rule.

Iran has also been using Syria as a route to supply weapons to Hezbollah in the country’s west.

However, Iran seems to be distancing itself from Assad, potentially abandoning everything it has built and fought to preserve in Syria for the past 40 years, which has been its primary foothold in the Arab world, the report stated.

Middle Eastern Reactions

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, "Syria has reached a stage where the Syrian people will shape the future of their own country; today, there is hope."

"The Syrian people cannot do this alone. Turkey attaches importance to Syrian territorial integrity. A new Syrian administration must be established inclusively. There should be no desire for revenge. Turkey calls on all actors to act with prudence and to be watchful. Terrorist organizations must not be allowed to take advantage of this situation. Opposition groups must be united. We will work for stability and safety in Syria."

He warned against Syrian rebels working with Kurdish terrorist groups, "The new Syria should not pose a threat to neighbors; it should eliminate threats. Any extension of the outlawed PKK militia cannot be considered a legitimate counterpart in Syria."

Qatar's foreign ministry said it was following developments in Syria with interest and called for the preservation of the unity of the state.

"We have been in contact with all actors in the region. We are in constant communication with Turkey and every stakeholder involved," a Saudi official told Reuters, adding that the kingdom was not aware of Bashar al-Assad's whereabouts.

Egypt has called on all parties in Syria to preserve the capabilities of the state and national institutions, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

The foreign ministry affirmed its support for the Syrian people and the country's sovereignty and unity.

 Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it stands by Syrian people and their choices at this "critical stage" after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

King Abdullah said Jordan respected the choices of the Syrian people. He urged the avoidance of any conflict in Syria that might lead to chaos and stressed the need to protect the security of his country's northern neighbor, according to a statement published by the Royal Hashemite Court.

Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi said Iraq was closely following developments and reaffirmed the importance of not interfering in the internal affairs of Syria, or supporting one party in favour of another.

International reactions

US President Joe Biden called Assad's fall "a fundamental act of justice" and reiterated the "historic opportunity" for Syria to build a better country despite the current atmosphere of uncertainty. 

In a post on X/Twitter, Biden outlined the steps the US would be taking in the wake of the rebels's victory. 

Biden stated that firstly, the US would talk to Syrian groups, including those involved in the UN-led process, to establish a transition towards an "independent, sovereign Syria."

Secondly, Biden wrote that the US will guide efforts to create security in eastern Syria, which includes protecting US military personnel from threats. Finally, the president said that the US will support neighboring countries to Syria  – Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel – to ensure their safety in the case of threats.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the fall of Assad's regime gave citizens "a reason for hope" in a statement on Sunday. 

"The Assad regime’s refusal since 2011 to engage in a credible political process and its reliance on the brutal support of Russia and Iran led inevitably to its own collapse," Blinken wrote in a press statement."The United States strongly supports a peaceful transition of power to an accountable Syrian government through an inclusive Syrian-led process."

Blinken stated that the US would be "closely monitoring" developments. He added that the US would support efforts to hold the Assad regime accountable for all of its atrocities.

President-elect Donald Trump applauded the fall of the regime and mocked Russia and Iran for losing their core ally. "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success."

"President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners," the White House said in a statement.

"The United States will continue to maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need to protect minorities in Syria, "Bashir al Assad has brutally oppressed his own people, has countless lives on his conscience and has driven numerous people to flee Syria, many of whom have also come to Germany. The Syrian people have experienced appalling suffering. The end of Assad's rule over Syria is, therefore, good news. What matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria. All religious communities, all minorities must enjoy protection now and in the future."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock echoed the message, saying, "The country must not now fall into the hands of other radicals - regardless of the guise. We therefore call on the parties to the conflict to live up to their responsibility for all Syrians. This includes the comprehensive protection of ethnic and religious minorities such as Kurds, Alawites or Christians and an inclusive political process that creates a balance between the groups."

French President Emmanuel Macron harshly condemned the Assad regime, saying, "The barbaric state has fallen. At last."

The barbaric state has fallen. At last.I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I send them my wishes for peace, freedom, and unity.France will remain committed to the security of all in the Middle East.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 8, 2024

UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said, "The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long, and we welcome his departure. Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored. We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days."

The UK's Deputy PM Angela Rayner said the British government welcomed the fall of Assad's regime but was interested in a political solution."If Assad has gone, that's a welcome change, but what comes next has to be a political solution, and they have to be working in the interests of the Syrian people."

Kaja Kallas, EU Foreign Minister, said, "The end of Assad's dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad's backers, Russia and Iran. Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners in Syria and in the region."

The Taliban applauded HTS for liberating the Syrian people, saying, "Afghanistan congratulates the leadership of the movement and the people of Syria on the recent developments, which have resulted in the removal of key factors contributing to conflict & instability. The capital, Damascus, has come under the control of the Syrian people under the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and we express hope that the remaining phases of the revolution will be managed effectively to establish a peaceful, unified, & stable governance system."