The fall of Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for over five decades, marks a historic shift in the region's political landscape, leaving questions about what lies ahead for the war-torn nation. he came to power in 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had governed Syria for nearly three decades with an authoritarian grip

The strikes have intensified in the wake of the rebel assault, with Russian air forces launching air raids in Aleppo, Idlib, and rural parts of Hama and Idlib provinces, where the rebels have made significant gains

The campaign, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda offshoot, has shaken the defensive lines of the Assad regime, capturing dozens of strategic villages and towns while inflicting heavy casualties on both sides