Syria’s future is uncertain

A momentous fortnight in the Levant. Following a negotiated ceasefire agreed in between Israel and Hezbollah bringing a fragile possibility of peace to Lebanon, opposition forces in Syria drove the dictator Bashar al Assad into exile. They ended 54 years of autocratic rule by the Assad family and 14 years of acute suffering for the Syrian people since the uprising of the so–called ‘Arab spring’.

Syrian Army soldiers not only abandoned their posts but also dumped their uniforms – though apparently not their guns – and thousands fled across the border to Iraq to avoid retribution. Around the world in countries that have given refuge to Syrian refugees in recent years, including Sweden, the UK and capitals in the Middle East, celebratory demonstrations erupted.

A Sunni businessman from Damascus proclaimed yesterday that he was now ‘living in a free Syria’, though such euphoria may unfortunately prove misplaced.