On Tuesday, Ahmed Al Sharaa, leader of Syria’s Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), pledged to hold former regime officials accountable for war crimes. The announcement follows the dramatic fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, marking the end of five decades of Assad family rule.
“We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, and officers responsible for torturing the Syrian people,” Sharaa stated via Telegram. He promised rewards for information leading to the capture of senior officials who fled abroad, vowing to seek their extradition.
Assad fled Syria as rebel forces stormed the capital, Damascus, on Sunday. His departure concludes a 13-year civil war that claimed 500,000 lives and displaced half the population, millions seeking refuge abroad. Russian media reports suggest Assad is now in Moscow under Kremlin protection, though Russian officials have not confirmed this.
Sharaa held discussions with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Al Jalali to ensure a smooth transfer of power and maintain basic services. Meanwhile, thousands of Syrians flocked to infamous detention centers like Saydnaya prison to locate missing loved ones. Freed detainees, many visibly emaciated or injured from torture, wandered the streets of Damascus, where citizens celebrated Assad’s downfall.
As Syrians grapple with their new reality, Israel has escalated airstrikes targeting remnants of Assad’s military infrastructure. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 250 strikes in the past 48 hours have destroyed weapons depots, naval ships, and research facilities suspected of links to chemical weapons. Explosions echoed through Damascus early Tuesday, with Israel reportedly deploying troops into a buffer zone near the Golan Heights for “temporary security reasons.”
Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an Assad ally, condemned the strikes, accusing Israel of “occupying more land in the Golan Heights.” The regional tensions add complexity to the fragile post-Assad landscape.
International reactions to Syria’s upheaval remain cautious. The United States, which maintains a troop presence in Syria to combat the Islamic State (ISIS), emphasized preventing extremist groups from exploiting the power vacuum. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed America’s commitment to avoiding Syria’s fragmentation and combating terrorism.
Western governments have urged Syria’s new leadership to uphold human rights and protect minorities. However, HTS’s history as an offshoot of al-Qaeda has raised concerns. Germany, France, and the UK called on HTS to reject violence before diplomatic engagement can proceed.
The United Nations has demanded accountability for Assad-era atrocities. However, with the Kremlin refusing to confirm Assad’s asylum in Russia, his fate—and the pursuit of justice—remains uncertain. For now, Syria stands on the brink of a new chapter, shaped by both opportunity and unresolved challenges.
