Which Syrian dictator was overthrown by rebel forces in December 2024, ending decades of authoritarian rule?

Bashar al-Assad, who had ruled Syria as an authoritarian leader for decades, was indeed overthrown by rebel forces in December 2024, bringing an end to his family's long grip on power. This pivotal event on December 8, 2024, saw opposition groups capture the capital, Damascus, culminating a major offensive that reshaped the nation's political landscape.

The Assad family's rule began in 1971 when Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, assumed power, establishing a totalitarian hereditary dictatorship. Bashar al-Assad inherited the presidency in 2000, continuing a regime characterized by severe repression and human rights abuses. The Syrian Civil War, which erupted in 2011 amidst the broader Arab Spring uprisings, was a direct challenge to his authoritarian rule. Over more than a decade, numerous rebel factions fought against government forces, with international actors often supporting different sides of the conflict.

The decisive offensive in late 2024, spearheaded by groups like Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Southern Operations Room (SOR), led to the rapid collapse of government defenses. As rebel forces advanced, Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus and was reportedly granted asylum in Russia, effectively ending the Assad dynasty's 54-year control over Syria. In the aftermath, a caretaker government was established, and Ahmed al-Sharaa, a prominent leader of one of the major rebel forces, was declared Syria's transitional president in January 2025, marking a new, albeit uncertain, chapter for the war-torn country.