The collapse of the Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024 marked a historic moment in the Middle East. It still remains to be fully understood how the rebel coalition — a diverse assembly of political and ideological groups backed by regional powers — swiftly overpowered government forces.
What is clear, however, is that a major factor in the regime’s downfall has been the persistent social and economic decay that has worsened all aspects of Syrian life over the past 13 years.
