Syrian rebels declared the country “liberated” after storming the capital and announced that President Bashar al-Assad had fled the capital to an unknown destination.
There were jubilant celebrations in Damascus and other parts of the country, including along the border with neighboring Lebanon, as many displaced Syrians decided to return home.
The rebels’ stunning advance came after 13 years of brutal war and ended more than half a century of rule by the al-Assad family.
Here are some excerpts from overseas reactions to this news. This page will be updated as more statements are added.
united nations
“The important thing is that we can find a situation where we can politically get out of this situation,” said Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria.
“And that political modus operandi needs to be very different from what it has been in the past, and it needs to be a process that is inclusive of everyone, and that brings us to the need for unity and stability that will allow Syria to regain its sovereignty.” It needs to be a process of serious focus and territory. There are many wounds that need to be healed. ”
China
“China is closely monitoring the developments in Syria and hopes that Syria will return to stability as soon as possible,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“The Chinese government is actively assisting Chinese nationals who wish to leave Syria in a safe and orderly manner and maintains contact with Chinese nationals remaining in Syria,” the ministry said. .
“We urge Syrian parties to take practical steps to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria,” it added.
“At present, the Chinese Embassy in Syria remains in a strong position, and we will continue to provide full support to Chinese nationals in need.”
egypt
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Egypt called on all parties in Syria to maintain the capacity of the state and state institutions.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its support for the Syrian people and the sovereignty and unity of the country and said it was monitoring the situation with great care.
european union
“The end of al-Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of al-Assad’s supporters Russia and Iran,” said Kaja Karas, the EU’s top diplomat. I mentioned it in my post to X.
He added that the bloc’s priority was “ensuring security” in the region, pledging to work with “all constructive partners” within Syria and across the wider region.
“The process of rebuilding Syria will be long and complex, and all parties must be ready to engage constructively,” she said.
France
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the fall of the “barbaric state” of the al-Assad regime in Syria and sent his wishes for peace to the people of Syria.
“The barbarian state has collapsed. At last,” Macron wrote to X.
“I salute the courage and perseverance of the Syrian people. In this moment of uncertainty, I send them my wishes for peace, freedom and unity.”
Germany
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the fall of the al-Assad regime as “good news” and appealed for a political solution to stabilize war-torn Germany.
“Bashar al-Assad brutally oppressed his own people. He sacrificed countless lives for his conscience and forced many to flee, many of whom ended up in Germany,” Scholz said in a statement. said.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Annalena Barbok said the fall of the al-Assad regime was a “huge relief” for the Syrian people.
“Al-Assad’s demise represents a huge relief for millions of people in Syria,” she said, adding that “the country remains open to other radicals in any form.” Don’t fall now,” he added.
Iran
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Iran respects Syria’s unity and national sovereignty and called for a “prompt end to the military conflict, prevention of terrorist acts and the start of a national dialogue” with all sectors of Syrian society. .
The Iranian government said it would continue to support international mechanisms to advance the political process, adding that the long-standing friendship between Iran and the Syrian state is expected to continue.
Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the fall of al-Assad’s regime, Iran’s main ally, as a “historic day” and said it was a direct result of the blows Israel inflicted on Hezbollah and Iran.
He said Israel occupied the Golan Heights buffer zone established by the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria after the Syrian army abandoned its positions.
“We will not allow any hostile forces to establish themselves on our borders,” he added.
Italy
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told X that he was “watching the developments in Syria closely with concern.”
“I am in constant contact with the embassy in Damascus and the prime minister’s office. We have convened an emergency meeting,” he added.
Lebanon
The Lebanese army said it was increasing its presence on the border with neighboring Syria.
“In view of the rapid development and delicate situation facing the region… the forces tasked with monitoring and controlling the northern and eastern borders have been strengthened, along with enhanced surveillance measures,” the military said. said in a statement.
Philippines
“The Philippines calls on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence to avoid further civilian casualties,” the country’s foreign ministry said.
“We express our concern over the situation of Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take necessary precautions and stay in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.”
qatar
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned that Syria should not be allowed to descend into chaos after the ouster of President Al Assad.
The Gulf emirates said they were “closely monitoring developments in Syria” and stressed “the need to maintain national institutions and national unity to prevent it from descending into chaos.”
Russia
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said al-Assad had resigned as president after consultations with parties to the conflict and left the country, but did not say where.
“After consultations between President B. Assad and the various participants in the conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he has decided to resign from the presidency and leave the country, giving instructions to proceed with the peaceful transition. “This is the strength of his authority,” the ministry said.
“Russia did not participate in these talks.”
The ministry also said Russian soldiers at bases in Syria are on high alert but there is no immediate threat.
Tolkier
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Syrian government “is collapsing and control of the country is changing.”
Fidan said this at the Doha Forum in Qatar. The country has been in turmoil for the past 13 years, since war began in 2011 with President Al Assad’s crackdown on the pro-democracy movement.
“We must not allow terrorist organizations to take advantage of this situation. The opposition must unite. We will strive for stability and security in Syria,” he added.
“The new Syria should not pose a threat to neighboring countries, and the threat should be eliminated.”
united arab emirates
Anwar Gargash, UAE presidential foreign affairs advisor, said non-state actors should not be given the opportunity to take advantage of the political vacuum.
“The events taking place in Syria clearly demonstrate political failure and the destructive nature of conflict and chaos,” Gargash said at the Manama Dialogue security forum in the Bahrain capital. Ta.
US
“President Biden (Joe) and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary situation in Syria and are in constant communication with our regional partners,” the White House said in a statement.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump said in a statement posted on his platform Truth Social that President al-Assad had lost Russia’s support and had “fled the country.”
“Mr. Assad is gone. He has fled the country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was no longer interested in protecting him.
“There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They were in Syria because of Ukraine, where nearly 600,000 Russian soldiers had been injured or killed in a war that should never have started and could last forever.” I lost all interest in it.”
yemen
Muammar al-Elyani, Minister of Information in Yemen’s internationally recognized government, said in X: “With their wisdom and fortitude, the Yemeni people can thwart the plans of Iran and its Houthi tools to violate Iranian land and tamper with their own destiny. Because I failed.”
He added: “Iran’s expansionist project, which has completed the Persian Crescent and used sectarian militias as a means to sow chaos and undermine national sovereignty, is collapsing.”
