By Necva Tastan Sevinc
ISTANBUL (AA) - France hailed the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria on Sunday, describing it as the end of over 13 years of "violent repression" against the Syrian people.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry marked the occasion as a "historic day" while acknowledging the immense suffering endured by Syrians under Assad’s rule.
“The Syrians have suffered too much. Bashar al-Assad leaves a country drained of blood, emptied of a large part of its population who, if they were not forced into exile, were massacred, tortured, and bombed with chemical weapons by the regime and its allies. France pays tribute to all the victims of this regime,” the statement said.
France urged the Syrian people to seize the moment to heal divisions and build a peaceful future, emphasizing the importance of unity and reconciliation.
“We call for the silence of arms, the preservation of state institutions, and respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said, advocating for a political transition that protects civilians, ensures minority rights, and upholds international law.
The French government also called on Syrians to reject extremism and work toward solidarity among all communities in the country.
France reaffirmed its support for the Syrian people since the 2011 revolution and appealed to the international community to aid in Syria’s reconciliation and reconstruction.
“We invite all our partners to do everything possible to help the Syrians find the path to reconciliation and reconstruction through an inclusive political solution, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the will of the Syrian people,” the statement concluded.
- Developments in Syria
Clashes between Assad regime forces and anti-regime groups erupted on Nov. 27 in rural areas west of Aleppo, a significant city in northern Syria.
On Nov. 30, anti-regime forces captured most of Aleppo’s center and secured full control of Idlib province. Last Thursday, following intense clashes, they seized the city center of Hama.
The groups also advanced in Homs, a strategically crucial province leading to Damascus, capturing key settlements.
In Daraa province near the Jordanian border, opposition forces launched an operation on Friday, regaining control of the city center. The same day, they took over Suwayda province in the south and Quneitra’s provincial center.
By Saturday, anti-regime groups had seized Homs' provincial center and begun advancing into Damascus' southern suburbs. Regime forces abandoned key locations, including the Defense and Interior ministries and Damascus International Airport.
By Sunday morning, the Assad regime had lost all control over the capital.
Meanwhile, in ‘Operation Dawn of Freedom’ launched on Dec. 1, the opposition Syrian National Army liberated the Tel Rifaat district center from the PKK/YPG terrorist organization in Aleppo's rural areas.