How Syrians Toppled the Butcher of Damascus in Just 11 Days | DISPATCH | Full HD Assad Documentary

Video Description

On December 8 2024, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his entire family fled his country and sought refuge in Russia. The swift fall of the Butcher of Damascus, the man who had made a startling comeback after nearly losing everything during the Arab Spring, took everyone by surprise. This film, shot before and after the fall of the regime, tells the story of why his bloody dictatorship fell so quickly. It delves into Syrians’ experiences of the end of the Assad clan, and their hopes and fears for the future. He came to power on a wave of optimism following the death of his father in 2000. With his Western wife, Asma, the couple seemed to herald a new start for the country; he announced a number of economic reforms and the country seemed to be opening up. But the promised reforms never materialised and, when the population took to the streets during the Arab Spring, Bashar al Assad quickly abandoned his progressive rhetoric. Peaceful demonstrations were met with bloody repression and gas attacks. Over 500,000 people were killed, more than 100,000 disappeared and at least 6 million Syrians were forced into exile. Thanks to his Russian and Iranian allies, Assad regained two-thirds of the country and broke up the opposition. Behind the scenes, his wife, Asma, was monopolising the country’s finances. As Jihad Yazigi, editor-in-chief of the Syria Report website explains: “In virtually every Syrian town, you have two or three men known as “The Lady’s Men” … you have a sort of more or less informal economic council of men who are around Asma, who invest in all sorts of sectors and who make sure that she benefits from what remains of Syrian economic activity.” Meanwhile Bashar al-Assad’s brother, Maher, used his control of the army to flood neighbouring countries with the drugs produced to support the Assad regime. But the war waged by Bashar Al Assad against his people has destroyed the economic infrastructure. A few weeks before the fall of the regime, Syrian journalist, Faysal, risked his life to secretly film images of the reality of life in Syria: starving young children scavenging in rubbish food and endless queues outside bakeries. The country has been bled dry after 54 years of rule by the Assads. After months of preparation, the Syrian rebels launched a new offensive on 27 November 2024. The rebels put an end to the dictatorship in 11 days, without meeting any serious resistance. The new administration has promised an inclusive government for all. But as Marie Forestier, Advisor on Syria to the European Institute of Peace, explains: “the real challenge for the new President is to broaden his base. Because until now, he has relied solely on loyalists, trusted people from Idlib, who are very conservative … when you go to the ministries, they are absolutely empty. There are only a few people around each minister, trusted people who do everything.” And even after its dazzling victory, the new government does not control all the territory: in the south, the Israeli army has extended its occupation in the Golan Heights. In the north, the Turks are bombing Kurdish-held areas on a massive scale. “We have many dreams and aspirations. And we have hope”, states activist and doctor, Lojain. “But in reality, the situation is very unclear … At the time of Bashar al Assad, it was political censorship, but now we are afraid that it will continue and become religious censorship.” Today, more than ever, Syrians are demanding the right to decide their own future. ------ We have the stories that global corporations don't want you to know. Our channel is home to award-winning investigations, current affairs and revealing documentaries that challenge unchecked global powers and give you the real, human stories behind the headlines. Want to understand more about our world? Want to delve beyond news headlines and understand global issues more deeply? Subscribe to DISPATCH for all this and more. Make sure to hit notifications to never miss a new release!