Assad's fall offers hope to millions of Syrians: Norwegian foreign minister

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) – The sudden fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria offers hope to millions of Syrians, according to Norway’s foreign minister.

"The fall of the Assad regime marks a pivotal moment, offering hope to millions of Syrians," Espen Barth Eide said in a written statement Monday.

Stressing the importance of unity and dialogue among all parties to ensure an "inclusive" transition, he expressed Norway's support for a Syrian-led process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 to achieve lasting peace and stability.

- Developments in Syria

On Nov. 27, clashes between anti-regime armed groups and Bashar al-Assad forces intensified in Syria.

Between Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, the groups gained the upper hand in the largest provinces such as Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Homs.

The regime completely lost control of the capital Damascus and many other regions and collapsed after the public supported the groups that started to enter Damascus on Dec. 7.

As the Baath Party's 61-year rule came to an end, regime leader Bashar Assad fled the capital.

Separately, the Syrian National Army liberated the Tel Rifaat district center from the terrorist group PKK/YPG as part of Operation Dawn of Freedom, which was launched on Dec. 1.

With the liberation of Manbij in the operation, the region, which had become the largest terrorist nest west of the Euphrates River, was cleared of the terrorist PKK/YPG.

The PKK/YPG – the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK, which has killed some 40,000 people in four decades of armed attacks – has long sought to establish a terrorist corridor in northern Syria, along the Turkish border.