Syria has been controlled by one family for more than half a century who ruled by repression, devastation and violence.But about two weeks ago, the regime began to falter, and then over the course of one night, it collapsed.Carlotta Gall, a senior correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the fall of Bashar al-Assad and what comes next.Guest: Carlotta Gall, a senior correspondent for The New York Times, focusing on the human aspect of wars and civil strife.Background reading: Live updates: The rebels who toppled Assad face stark challenges in Syria.With Assad gone, a brutal dictatorship ends. But the new risks are huge.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Chapter 1: What is happening in Syria right now?
My name is Roud Ndeshi. I'm 26 years old. I'm currently in Homs, Syria. There are so many people on the streets, probably all of Syria. I'm not even exaggerating. Everyone's celebrating, they're singing, they're taking pictures, they're taking videos. What you're hearing right now are not bullets, actually. They're just more like fireworks.
Chapter 2: How did Assad's regime collapse so suddenly?
People are just shocked that we actually got rid of the brutal government that we were under. There is just this peaceful feeling that you get that it's okay. This is over. It's over. It's the end of a 50-year-old oppression that tortured us, that took away loved ones from us. We're all afraid that if we sleep, this might be a dream. Is this a dream?
Chapter 3: What historical context led to the uprising?
From The New York Times, I'm Sabrina Tavernisi, and this is The Daily. Syria has been controlled by one family for more than half a century. It ruled by repression, devastation, and violence. But about two weeks ago, the regime began to falter. And then, over the course of one stunning night, it collapsed. Today, my colleague Carlotta Gall on the fall of Bashar al-Assad and what comes next.
Chapter 4: What role did Iran and Russia play in the conflict?
It's Monday, December 9th. So, Carlotta, there's been an absolutely incredible turn of events in Syria. We're talking on Sunday morning. Walk us through what happened.
Chapter 5: How did external distractions weaken Assad's regime?
It has been the most incredible turn of events. In just 12 days, we've turned from what we thought was really a frozen conflict going nowhere to an uprising in this 13-year civil war.
Chapter 6: What were the reactions of the Syrian people to the regime's fall?
Armed groups in Syria have reportedly attacked government forces in the western countryside of Aleppo province.
It started with a small rebel group come up from the northwest of the country. And very rapidly, in just a matter of days, they took three cities.
The Syrian army concedes it has lost control of large parts of Aleppo.
Aleppo in the north, the second biggest city in the country. And then they started to move south.
Islamist forces are on their fourth day of a lightning offensive through several towns and villages towards Syria's fourth largest city, Hama.
And then they kept going.
opposition fighters now on their way going south towards Homs that then leads to the capital, Damascus.
This is when suddenly it seemed that they were ambitious enough to actually topple the government. And so by Friday, we knew that the capital was in danger. And Saturday, you saw reports of gunfire in the city.
Syrian rebels are telling media outlets they've entered the capital city of Damascus.
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