Assad ruled Syria with iron fist before defeat in civil war 

AI Summary

Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule of Syria ended in December 2024 after a rapid advance by rebel forces, coinciding with the distraction of his Russian and Iranian allies due to conflicts elsewhere. Assad fled to Moscow, marking a significant turning point in Syria's ongoing civil war.

DAMASCUS, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule of Syria ended abruptly in December 2024 following a lightning advance by rebel forces who struck while the Russian and Iranian allies who had backed him through years of civil war were distracted by conflicts elsewhere. He fled to Moscow, ending more than five decades of iron-fisted rule by his family and opening a new chapter for Syria.