Bashar Assad's government falls, ending 54-year Assad dynasty in Syria

Syrian President Bashar Assad's government fell on Sunday, ending his nearly 14-year rule amid a devastating civil war. This marks the end of the Assad family's nearly 54-year dynasty in Syria, which began with his father, Hafez Assad. Assad's downfall contrasts sharply with his early presidency, which began in 2000 with hopes for reform. Instead, he responded to protests in 2011 with violence, leading to a brutal civil war that has killed nearly half a million people and displaced millions. Recent developments saw opposition forces launch a surprise offensive, causing government forces to collapse. Assad's allies, preoccupied with other conflicts, did not intervene, leaving his whereabouts uncertain as insurgents took control of the capital.