The End of Assad? Syrian Rebels enter the outskirts of Aleppo for the first time since 2016

This is now post colonial Syria.

Where as Assad was very much a product of European influences and thought.

He led a socialist party. You don't get much more European colonial legacy than that and bar the repression and killing he did do some good things and for minorities women etc he did help moderate

As that now fades the indigenous belief comes to the fore, same happened in Afghanistan, Iraq with its lowering of marriage to 9, going bringing in the death penalty for homosexuality and on and on.

It's all very vibrant.

Played the clip don't speak Arabic.

Understood enough recognised enough words, screaming, angry, pointing, serious, talk about their war God Allah. Al quds ie Jerusalem, Muslimah, and Muhammed, the creator of their belief.

Whack jobs, the good outcome will not be good.

.. deleted, link not working

Saying it isn't going to be good isn't saying it is bad that Assad is gone.

IIf it is stable and not too savage, it might be acceptable, it is another regional power falling in to religious dominated govt.

Jordan would want to be careful, the one with Petra in it not plastic in her.

Anything that is still left there belonging to the Russian's, and that includes any thing still at the airbase, Putin can forget about it now. I wonder if any of the ships returning to Russia, will come under attack from Ukraine? Icing on the cake!!!

I seem to recall pro-Kremlin posters saying something similar about Ukraine after the full scale invasion happened in 2022. Apparently Hungary, Romania and Poland were all going to sweep in and take back territory that had been under their control at some time in the past.

I'd hold off on the predictions for now. This is a complex fast moving situation.

One thing appears to be clear though and that is that what has happened in Syria is a direct result of decisions taken by both Israel and Russia in recent times.

The middle east is the most complex geopolitical region on earth (and it's not even close). There is a delicate political balance both within the countries there and throughout the region at an international level. Wars that happen in countries ripple out to their neighbours, often with unintended consequences.

The 2003 invasion of Iraq had huge consequences that are still being felt to this day.

A month ago nobody would have predicted Assad's fall. It would be foolish to try and predict too far into the future.

Yeah, but that was when Afghans were fighting the dastardly Russian's!!! And Pakistan was more than involved in that war too!

The collapse of the Ottoman empire is still playing out.

Yes. Under Assad, the lifestyle was pretty western, women free to choose what to wear, eat and drink. Lots of home-grown wines in the region, and good wines at that.The offset of that, as your friend described it is the continuous background of bombing and shooting. In the 3 years I was there, while in Damascus, I don't ever think that there was a day without bombs or shooting. All very unpredictable. Tartous being the exception, not too much war visible there, but the war was everywhere else. After the Russians arrived mid 2015, things started to change, but their presence really only started to make a difference at the end of 2015, and into 2016. After extensive bombing of Deraa, and when the Rebels were forced into re-locating to Idlib, where they continued the fight. This was apparent in the speed at which HTS took Idlib. But it was true of many Cities, Raqqa, Hama, Homs etc. were all hotbeds of anti regime forces. Now we wait and see what will happen when the dust settles.

Are you forgetting the MINOR MATTERS re the following :-

(1) refugees trying to get to Europe as a result of wars, strict rules in those areas,etc

(2) will it impact on cost of living re more expensive imports.

(3) there is ABSOLUTLY no reason why 7/11 or equivalent will not happen again. The Islamic mindset - at least amongst the more radical groups- is VERY , VERY different from the western/European / American mindset. Remember the concept of suicide bombers, 40 virgins waiting in heaven , sleeper units , etc.