AFTER 54 years of authoritarian rule, such a quick collapse of the Assad regime was unexpected. However, it proves that the will of the people is stronger than tyranny.
After the signing of the Sykes-Picot Treaty in 1917, which divided the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, the history of the Levant, especially Syria, has been marked by unforeseen events.
As a result, these countries have long been unstable, with many becoming battlegrounds in recent decades for external powers that seek to carry out their own agendas, often through bloodshed and destruction, and sometimes by enticement and shifting social values.
This has led to growing resentment among the people of four Arab countries towards Iran's influence over them. It began in Iraq, which still bears the scars of chaos, and then spread to Syria, a country once known for its rich cultural heritage. Lebanon, once referred to as the "Switzerland of the East", has also felt this influence, as has Yemen, which was known to be the capital of wisdom, but is now trapped in a tunnel of ignorance.
Tehran and Hezbollah carried out massacres under the pretext of defending the shrine of Lady Zainab (May Allah be pleased with her). However, the true objective was about exporting their so-called "revolution", seizing control of Syria’s resources, and subjugating its ancient civilization. What was once a proud nation has now descended into a tragic state, one that no self-respecting Syrian can tolerate today.
Syria has long been regarded as the key to the stability of the Middle East. Any interference with it has the potential to destabilize the entire region. Unfortunately, the fleeing ruler ignored this fragile balance, clinging to his alliance with the Persian regime that had already lost its power, rather than seeking common ground with his people. This disregard for the situation only accelerated the uprising against him.
Today, Syria is free from Assad’s rule, and when the opposition entered the capital, Damascus, their first statement was polite and respectful. They called for reconciliation, urging against any retribution or triumphalism, and they invited the current Prime Minister to address the country’s future.
While many variables still shape the region, one thing is clear: there is no Iranian presence in Beirut, Baghdad, or Damascus. Sanaa remains the last stronghold that Iran has boasted of controlling, with officials claiming to rule over four Arab countries at the heart of the Arab world, countries whose national security they have threatened for years.
The rhetoric surrounding Iran's power and its sectarian militias in the region has begun to fade with the fall of the Baath regime in Syria. This marks the beginning of a significant shift in Tehran's influence, signaling that the region may soon be liberated from the 45-year-old practice of state-sponsored terrorism.
For decades, Syria was regarded as the only country in the world that was not indebted to anyone, and where people lived in stability and security. However, the oppressive practices of the security services, coupled with Iranian interference in even the most basic aspects of daily life, drove the Syrian people into poverty and hunger. As a result, millions were forced to flee the country in search of a better life abroad.
Following this great change in the Levant, those responsible for committing horrific crimes against the Syrian people must be held accountable. Also, Lebanon must begin to rid itself of the nightmare of Hezbollah, a group that has turned the country into a war-torn state that is enduring its worst conditions.
With the collapse of the so-called "Iranian axis", there is now an opportunity for Yemen to free itself from the "Houthi group" that has brought devastation upon its people, and severed their ties with the Arab world. This could pave the way for regional stability and accelerate the development that the region has long been deprived of for decades.
