Governments, both allies and opponents of Assad, rushed to grasp the shocking turn of events and assess its impact on the Middle East and the Middle East

In Lebanon, thousands of Syrians made their way to the Masnaa border crossing to return home despite the uncertainty about the situation.

“Anything is better than Bashar,” said Sami Abdel-Latif, a refugee from Hama who wanted to return to his wife and four children.

“We have been waiting for this feeling for 14 years,” said Malak Matar, who was preparing to return to the capital Damascus. Now he said: “The Syrians must create a well-organized state and take care of their country.”

Many citizens in Syria’s neighboring countries reacted with joy to the news that Assad had disappeared. In Jordan’s capital Amman, resident Muhab al-Majali said his overthrow meant the end of “unjust and tyrannical rule.”

“I believe that the future of Syrians will be beautiful and successful,” he said.

Others remained uncertain given the region’s history, in which the democratic hopes of the 2011 Arab Spring collapsed into conflict and authoritarianism.

Saeed Sawy, an engineer in Cairo, predicted that Syria’s rebel groups would fight each other in the fight for control of the country’s future.

“We’ve seen this before,” he said. “We saw this in Libya, in Tunisia, in Yemen and in Sudan. People rejoice at the overthrow of the tyrants, then they disagree and fight, and a civil war begins.”

Syria’s neighbors increased security at their borders: Lebanon closed all but one of its land crossings, while Syria and Jordan each closed one border post.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces had temporarily taken control of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement after Syrian troops abandoned their positions.

Air strikes were reported on a military airport near Damascus previously attacked by Israel, as well as on other Syrian military sites.

Iran, a staunch ally of Assad, called on the Syrian people to decide their country’s future “without harmful foreign interference.”

The Foreign Ministry in Tehran said Iran supports Syria’s unity and national sovereignty and expressed hope for “the end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist activities and the beginning of a national dialogue” involving all groups.

The Iran-aligned Iraqi government said it supported “all international and regional efforts to open dialogue” for Syria. Egypt’s foreign ministry called for a “comprehensive political process” to usher in a new era of peace in the war-torn country.

The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government hailed the fall of Assad as “a historic moment.” The Yemeni government is at war with the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran.

Turkiye has supported anti-Assad militant groups in Syria and could play a key role in what happens next. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the fall of Assad brings “hope.” He called on the world to help “unify and rebuild” Syria.

Fidan, who met in Qatar on Saturday with diplomats from Russia and Iran, key backers of the Assad regime, said regional and global powers should try to “act with prudence and calm.”

Europe calls for calm

The war forced millions of Syrians to flee to Europe, and expatriates took to the streets to celebrate in cities like Paris, London, Stockholm, Helsinki and Athens.

Many European governments welcomed Assad’s departure while urging a rapid return to stability.

“The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development,” said Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s newly appointed foreign policy chief, in a post on X.

“Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all constructive partners in Syria and the region.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement that the end of Assad’s rule was “good news,” adding: “What matters now is that law and order is quickly restored in Syria.” The French Foreign Ministry welcomed Assad’s downfall and said “the Syrian people have suffered too much.”

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 that vital assistance can reach the most vulnerable in the hours and days ahead,” he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for calm and urged people to work toward an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions.”

Russia, which has been supporting Assad with troops and warplanes, said it was following the “dramatic events” in Syria “with extreme concern.”

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, wrote on rely on him.”

The USA evaluates events

In Washington on Sunday, President Joe Biden met with his national security team to get an update on the situation in Syria.

President-elect Donald Trump said in a social media post on Saturday before Assad’s ouster was confirmed: “Syria is a mess, but it is not our friend.” The United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. LET IT PLAY. Don’t interfere!”

The U.S. has about 900 troops stationed in Syria, including U.S. troops working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group.

With PTI inputs