Sun. Feb 9th, 2025

VIDEO: The moment Syrian insurgents topple the statue of dictator Bashar al Assad's brother after taking Aleppo

Photo: YouTube Screenshot

The destruction of the monument dedicated to Bassel al Assad symbolizes the advance of the rebels in Syria's second city, after a lightning offensive that puts the regime in check

 Gunmen toppled a statue of Bassel al Assad, brother of the Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad, in a symbolic act that reflects the advance of rebel groups in the city after a lightning offensive against government forces.

The episode occurred in the Basel Square in Aleppo, where the statue had remained as a tribute to the eldest son of Hafez al Assad, considered his father's designated successor before he died in a car accident in 1994.

According to witnesses, the Statue attacked just hours after insurgents entered Aleppo, which represents the biggest setback for the regime in the city since the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011..

Images spread on social networks They show the toppled statue as armed men celebrate in the squareReuters The location was confirmed by characteristic elements of the roundabout, surrounding buildings and road layouts that match archive images. However, it was not possible to verify the affiliation of those who appear in the videos.

Lightning offensive

The insurgent advance, led by a coalition of rebel groups dominated by jihadists and supported in part by Türkiye, began on Wednesday with coordinated attacks in the north of the country. Fighters managed to enter Aleppo two days later, taking control of key neighborhoods, the international airport and other strategic points such as the medieval citadel in the city's historic center.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that The insurgents control almost the entire city of Aleppo, except for areas under Kurdish control. “For the first time since the conflict began, Aleppo is escaping from the control of the Syrian regime,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the organisation.

The OSDH also reported that the insurgents took cities and towns in the north of the province of Hama, reversing advances made by government forces in 2016.

The regime's response

The Syrian army announced on Saturday that it was redeploying troops and preparing a counterattack to recover the lost areas. In a statement, it denied rumours about a mass desertion of its forces and said that “the general command continues to fight terrorist organisations.”

Meanwhile, Government aviation launched attacks against rebel positions in Aleppo, according to the pro-government newspaper Al WatanWitnesses said a bombing raid on Basel Square had left victims, although no specific figures were given.

The dictator Bashar al AssadIn his first public comments since the start of the offensive, he reiterated that his government will continue to “defend the stability and territorial integrity” of the country against “terrorists and their sponsors.”

Regional and international implications

The rebel advance represents a significant challenge to the Assad regime, which had consolidated its control over Aleppo following the 2016 battle with the support of Russia IranThe surprise offensive appears to have been planned for years and coincides with the entry into force of a ceasefire in the neighbouring country. Lebanon between Israel Hezbollah, an ally of Assad.

Turkish officials, who have supported opposition groups, said that The offensive began as a limited measure to stop government attacks against opposition-held areas. However, the withdrawal of Assad's forces allowed for an expansion of the operation.

The US government attributed the rebel success to the Assad regime's resistance to implementing a UN-backed political process, as well as its reliance on Russia Iran.

Setback for Assad

The loss of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city, represents a hard blow to the regime, both in strategic and symbolic terms. The city had been a key bastion in Assad’s consolidation of power over the past few years, and its recapture in 2016 marked a turning point in the civil war.

The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011 with peaceful anti-government protests, has escalated into an all-out war involving multiple national and international actors. According to UN estimates, has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more.

(With information from Reuters, AP and AFP)
Source: INFOBAE

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