Russia says Bashar al-Assad has 'stepped down and left Syria' (www.bbc.com)
from MicroWave@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 13:57
https://lemmy.world/post/22907291

Summary

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, has reportedly fled the country, according to Russia and rebel forces.

His last public appearance was a week ago, and his whereabouts remain unknown, with conflicting reports about his departure and potential destination.

#world

threaded - newest

shittydwarf@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Dec 14:20 next collapse

He’s not pining, he’s passed on! This man is no more! He has ceased to be! He’s expired and gone to meet his maker! This is a late dictator! He’s a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed him to the perch, he would be pushing up the daisies! His metabolic processes are now history! He’s off the twig! He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off the mortal coil, rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-dictator!

SirSamuel@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 14:35 collapse

Well, I’d better replace it then

Sorry gov’, we’re right out of dictators. I’ve got a slug

QuarterSwede@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 14:38 next collapse

Is Syria the country Western powers wanted (and no doubt helped) a change of guard?

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 14:42 next collapse

It’s sure one of them. And now the rebels are asking for Israel’s help.

timesofisrael.com/syrian-rebel-commander-urges-is…

Badeendje@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 23:31 collapse

Interestingly the leader of the biggest faction now… the guy that started the steamroll. His family is originally from the Golan heights.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Mohammad_al-Julani

jlh@lemmy.jlh.name on 08 Dec 15:59 next collapse

No.

Western powers don’t support the Sunni forces. They supported the Kurds off and on, who are one of the most democratic and multilateral governments in the middle east, but it was the Sunni forces who overthrew Assad.

The US definitely didn’t like Assad using chlorine gas on civilians, and called airstrikes on his military occasionally, but Obama, Trump and Biden never strove for a regime change there.

This regime change was caused by Syrian economic issues, Turkish aid, reduced infighting between the Kurds and the Sunnis, and the collapse of Russia’s illegal Wagner PMC.

hark@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 18:24 collapse

Yes. It was one of the countries that weren’t sucking israel’s dick so it had to go. Just look at the pattern of all the other Middle Eastern countries that have been regime changed.

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 14:42 next collapse

Stepped down? So like there’s a secret staircase to Minsk?

Lon3star@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 15:05 next collapse

More likely a window

TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee on 08 Dec 16:26 next collapse

He stepped down rapidly in a plane over Homs.

massive_bereavement@fedia.io on 08 Dec 16:42 collapse

40,000 feet down approximately and there's a cozy jet-fuel bonfire at the end of said staircase.

small44@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 15:11 next collapse

Why didn’t step down from the beginning? He was forced to.

hark@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 18:23 collapse

You’ll see why when this new government gets established.

ChicoSuave@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 15:12 next collapse

Russia can’t protect its allies. This is big. Russia has lost both military and political power. BRICS only survives because of China. Russia will implode over its economy soon too.

BakerBagel@midwest.social on 08 Dec 17:36 collapse

“BRICS” isn’t any sort of actual alliance. South Africa is rapidly approaching failed state territory while China and India have ramped up hostilities across their borders.

davel@lemmy.ml on 08 Dec 19:58 collapse
BakerBagel@midwest.social on 08 Dec 21:00 collapse

And did you read the second half of the BBC article about how relations are still incredibly tense between the two? China and India are about as friendly today as the US and Russia were before the annexation of Crimea

IDKWhatUsernametoPutHereLolol@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Dec 15:32 next collapse

My employer did not fire me, I quit!

🤓

MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io on 08 Dec 16:09 next collapse

“Retired abroad”

massive_bereavement@fedia.io on 08 Dec 16:39 collapse

Is this the "He went to live in a farm upstate where he can run and play" version of Russian-aligned dictators?

DaddleDew@lemmy.world on 08 Dec 16:55 next collapse

sad kazoo music

corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca on 08 Dec 17:59 next collapse

He’s definitely left the place in pieces.

52fighters@lemmy.sdf.org on 08 Dec 20:17 collapse

He reminds me of the guy in the Godfather movies. He could have been a boring doctor living a quiet life but he let himself get sucked into the family business and it defined who he became.