World leaders react to downfall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad

The ousted dictator appears to have little love among his counterparts, some of whom have celebrated his loss of power.

The spectacular collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been welcomed by world leaders and media outlets who’ve dubbed him a “bloodthirsty despot”.

Assad has reportedly taken refuge in Russia after a coalition of Islamist Rebels stormed the capital of Damascus and claimed victory 13 years since a ruinous civil war began.

The road to his loss of power has been chronicled in political obituaries published in the world’s media, with The Guardian saying he had gone “from doctor to brutal dictator”.

France’s Le Monde was even more savage: “Bashar al-Assad, accidental president, failed moderniser and bloodthirsty despot” its headline read. The Australian’s front page dubbed Assad the “butcher of Damascus”.

French President Emmanuel Macron was equally critical in his public comments by choosing to send words of support to the Syrian people – not its leader.

“The barbaric state has fallen. At last,” Mr Macron wrote on X.

“I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I send them my wishes for peace, freedom, and unity.”

US President-elect Donald Trump and President of France Emmanuel Macron both released statements. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Notre-Dame de Paris

US President Joe Biden said the fall of Assad’s regime was an “opportunity for the long suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country”.

“This regime brutalised and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians,” he said in a televised statement.

“The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice.”

The European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said: “The end of al-Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of al-Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran.”

US President Joe Biden said ISIS must not be allowed to regain power in the region. Picture: Chris Kleponis/AFP

“Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners, in Syria and the region,” Ms Kallas wrote on X,

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed the end of Assad’s “barbaric regime”.

“We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days,” he said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the fall of Assad as “good news”, saying the overthrown dictator had “oppressed his people brutally”.

“He has countless lives on his conscience and has driven numerous people to flee, many of whom have arrived in Germany,” Mr Scholz said in a statement.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2005. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP

Supporters and members of the Syrian community gathered to celebrate in Trafalgar Square, central London. Picture: Benjamin Cremel/AFP

Assad’s ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin was seized on bt Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha who claimed Putin “always betrays those who rely on him”.

The Kremlin claims it helped facilitate the coup, the RIA Novosti news agency reports, to ensure a “peaceful” transfer of power.

Russia has said it has offered Assad and his family asylum after they fled Syria - no images have emerged to confirm this, byt the New York Post labelled it as a “safety nyet”.

In Israel, its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed a “historic day” and credited Assad’s fall a “chain reaction” of the Jewish state’s battles with Iran and Hezbollah.

“The Assad regime, a key cell in Iran’s axis, has fallen. This the direct result of the blows we dealt Iran and Hezbollah,” he said.

A man treads on a picture of Syria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad as people enter his residence in Damascus' Malki area. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP

A member of the press documents a fire burning following explosions at a security compound that houses the Syrian Military Intelligence Interrogation Division in Damascus, Syria. Picture: Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images

In the wake of the rebel takeover, China’s foreign ministry said that Beijing “is closely following the development of the situation in Syria and hopes that Syria returns to stability as soon as possible”.

“The Chinese government has actively assisted Chinese citizens who are willing to leave Syria in a safe and orderly way, and has maintained contact with … Chinese citizens who remain in Syria,” the ministry said.

“We urge the relevant Syrian parties to take practical measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria.

“At present, the Chinese embassy in Syria is still holding strong, and we will continue to provide full assistance to Chinese citizens in need.”

In neighbouring Lebanon, the country’s army said it was reinforcing its presence on the border with Syria.

“In light of rapid developments and delicate circumstances that the region is going through … units tasked with monitoring and controlling the northern and eastern borders have been reinforced, in conjunction with tightening surveillance measures,” the army said in a statement.

The foreign minister of another neighbour, Turkiye, Hakan Fidan said “terrorist organisations must not be allowed to take advantage of this situation”, while Qatar said Syria must be stopped from “sliding into chaos”.