Could even Putin be toppled? Syrians around the world are celebrating the fall of a dictator. Some hope other dictators will soon meet the same fate.
Assad’s fall sparks rumours of change
Toppling: In a rare public criticism one Russian defence expert writes this morning: “Syria is a colossal geopolitical defeat and the end of our military presence in the Middle East — for which we have fought so hard for the last nine years.” Glossary
Syrian - From Syria, a Middle Eastern nation that has been involved in a civil war since 2011, killing thousands.
Dictator - A ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force.
Bashar al-Assad - The president of Syria since 2000. He fled to Russia with his family in 2024.
Ceasefire - An end to fighting — often temporary.
Arab Spring - A series of mass protests across the Arab World against dictatorships that had stood for decades. In Tunisia, the protesters succeeded in creating a democratic government, but many other countries collapsed into civil war or experienced new dictatorships.
Iran - A country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million.
Russia - The largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.
allies - An ally is someone that aligns with and supports a cause with another individual or group of people.
Fragile - Easily broken.
Government - The group of people who govern - or lead - the country.
Revolution - A sudden change in the way things are done.