STORY: :: Experts say Syria's future hinges on a peaceful transfer of power

between the regime remnants and the rebels

:: Andre Banks, Syria expert, Giga Institute for Middle East Studies

"Will it be possible between HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) and other rebels on the one hand and and old regime forces, mostly the prime minister of Assad (Ghazi al-Jalali) to find some kind of way for a smooth, violent-free, relatively peaceful transition of power."

:: December 8, 2024

:: Carsten Wieland, Former senior advisor to U.N. Special envoy in Syria

"It's now crucial that HTS, which has an Islamist background, is transforming itself with deeds and not only with words. And we have seen some deeds in the past days into a force that can integrate also the other minorities."

Syrian rebels earlier announced on state television they had ousted Assad, eliminating a 50-year family dynasty in a lightning offensive that raises the specter of a new wave of instability in a Middle East gripped by war.

The dramatic collapse also marks a seismic moment for the Middle East, dealing a massive blow to Russia and Iran, which have lost a key ally at the heart of the region and creating more uncertainty as the Gaza war rages.

The pace of events has stunned Arab capitals and raised fears of a new wave of regional instability.

A smooth transition is set to be challenging in a country with complex competing interests, from Islamists to groups with links to the United States, Russia and Turkey.