‘Al Djazeera’: World reacts to capture of Syria’s Damascus by opposition fighters

A diverse Syrian opposition has seized power in Syria. Among the forces that have come out against the Assad government are Islamists, Syrian oppositionists to the regime, and militant groups oriented towards Turkey. Chaos has begun in the Middle East in the very center of the region, which borders Israel, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon which are getting a hotbed of instability and uncontrollable militant groups right next door to their borders. This is the most serious and tragic crisis since the "Arab Spring."

It should also be recalled that the West was very happy when Gaddafi was killed in Libya, and was sure that "democracy would return to the country." Instead of democracy, Libya received an incessant civil war with a lot of victims. But no "democracy." Is Syria next?

This is a selection of quotes from articles in the world press that express the mood in their countries, collected by ‘Al Djazeera’.

United Nations

“After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement.

“The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine, and my Special Envoy will be working with them towards that end,” he added.

“We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity. Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity must be restored.”

Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry said al-Assad had resigned from the presidency after talks with the sides involved in the conflict and had left the country, without saying where he has gone.

“As a result of talks between B. Assad and a range of participants of the conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he took the decision to resign from his presidential post and leave the country, giving instructions to proceed with the peaceful transfer of power,” the ministry said.

“Russia did not take part in these talks.”

The ministry also said Russian soldiers at their bases in Syria are on high alert but that there is no immediate threat to them.

China

Beijing “is closely following the development of the situation in Syria and hopes that Syria returns to stability as soon as possible”, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The Chinese government has actively assisted Chinese citizens who are willing to leave Syria in a safe and orderly way, and has maintained contact with… Chinese citizens who remain in Syria,” the ministry said.

“We urge the relevant Syrian parties to take practical measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria,” it added.

“At present, the Chinese embassy in Syria is still holding strong, and we will continue to provide full assistance to Chinese citizens in need.”

Turkiye

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Syria’s government “had collapsed and control of the country is changing hands”.

Speaking at the Doha Forum in Qatar, Fidan said that “this didn’t happen overnight. For the last 13 years, the country has been in turmoil” since war began with al-Assad’s repression of democracy protests in 2011.

 “Terrorist organisations must not be allowed to take advantage of this situation. Opposition groups must be united. We will work for stability and safety in Syria,” he added.

“The new Syria should not pose a threat to neighbours, it should eliminate threats.”

United Arab Emirates

Anwar Gargash, UAE diplomatic adviser to the president, said non-state actors should not be allowed the opportunity to exploit political vacuums.

“Unfolding events in Syria are also a clear indication of political failure and the destructive nature of conflict and chaos,” Gargash told the Manama Dialogue security forum in the Bahraini capital.

United States

“The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice,” US President Joe Biden said.

Biden added that the fall of al-Assad is also a “moment of risk and uncertainty as we all turn to the question of what comes next”.

“The United States will work with our partners and stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk,” he said.

Egypt

Egypt has called on all parties in Syria to preserve the capabilities of the state and national institutions, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

The country’s foreign ministry said it was following the situation with great care, affirming its support for the Syrian people and the country’s sovereignty and unity.

European Union

“The end of al-Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of al-Assad’s backers” the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said.

She added that the bloc’s priority was to “ensure security” in the region and pledged to work with “all the constructive partners” in Syria and more broadly across the area.

“The process of rebuilding Syria will be long and complicated and all parties must be ready to engage constructively,” she said.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the fall of al-Assad’s “barbaric state” in Syria and sent wishes of peace to the people in the country.

“I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I send them my wishes for peace, freedom, and unity.”

Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the fall of al-Assad as “good news” and urged a political solution to stabilise for the war-stricken country.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called al-Assad’s fall “a great relief” for Syrians.

“The end of al-Assad represents for millions of people in Syria a great relief,” she said, adding, “the country must not now fall into the hands of other radicals, whatever form they take.”

Iran

The foreign ministry said in statement Iran respects Syria’s unity and national sovereignty and called for “the swift end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist actions, and the commencement of national dialogue” with all sectors of Syrian society.

Tehran said it would continue to support international mechanisms for pursuing the political process, adding that longstanding and friendly relations between the Iranian and Syrian nations are expected to continue.

Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the fall of al-Assad, a major ally of Iran, as an “historic day” and said it was a direct result of blows dealt to Hezbollah and Iran by Israel.

He said that Israel has seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria after Syrian forces abandoned their positions.

“We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” he added.

Italy

“I am following with concerned attention the evolution of the situation in Syria,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.

“I am in constant contact with our embassy in Damascus and with the office of the prime minister. I have called an emergency meeting,” he added.

Lebanon

The Lebanese army said it was reinforcing its presence on the border with neighbouring Syria.

“In light of rapid developments and delicate circumstances that the region is going through… units tasked with monitoring and controlling the northern and eastern borders have been reinforced, in conjunction with tightening surveillance measures,” the army said in a statement.

Philippines

“The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians,” the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs said.

“We express concern regarding the situation of our Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.”

Qatar

Qatar’s foreign ministry warned Syria must not be allowed to descend into chaos after the ouster of al-Assad.

The Gulf emirate said it was “closely monitoring the developments in Syria” and emphasised “the necessity of preserving national institutions and the unity of the state to prevent it from sliding into chaos”.

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