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Reactions Pour In from Around the World to Events in Syria
The fall of President Bashar al-Assad has sent shockwaves around the globe, with world leaders and international organizations weighing in on the historic developments in the region.
European leaders were among the first to react, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying that the “cruel Assad dictatorship has collapsed” and calling for Europe to support the safeguarding of national unity and the rebuilding of a Syrian state that protects all minorities.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said the end of Assad’s dictatorship was a “positive and long-awaited development” that also exposed the weakness of his backers, Russia and Iran. “Our priority is to ensure security in the region,” she added.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola paid tribute to the Syrian people, saying, “The dictator has fallen. It is clear that Bashar al-Assad’s brutal 24-year rule of Syria is over as his regime lies in tatters. This is a critical period for the region and for the millions of Syrians who want a free, stable, and secure future.”
Iran, on the other hand, has expressed its respect for Syria’s unity and national sovereignty, calling for the swift end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist actions, and the commencement of national dialogue with all sectors of Syrian society.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the fall of Assad as a major victory for Israel, which he said was directly responsible for the blow dealt to Hezbollah and Iran. “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” he added.
The United States is also closely monitoring the situation, with President Joe Biden saying, “President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners.”
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left office and departed the country, with Russia’s military bases in Syria on high alert. He called for all sides to refrain from violence and urged international partners to support the Syrian government.
International organizations, such as the United Nations, have also weighed in, with U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen saying that the Syrian people have a clear desire for stable and inclusive transitional arrangements to be put in place. U.N. Aid Chief Tom Fletcher called for international support for the Syrian people, saying, “We will respond wherever, whenever, however, we can to support people in need.”