Syria's Assad dynasty falls as rebels torch founder's tomb

Syrian rebels have once again confronted the hated family of dictators who have governed the country for five decades. The tomb of Hafez al-Assad has been engulfed in flames.

"The grave of the cursed dictator has been set alight," reported pro-rebel journalist Nedal al-Amari on social media. Photos published by him show the charred remnants of the sarcophagus and rebels posing with the Syrian flag.

A day earlier, the rebels entered Qardaha, the birthplace of Bashar al-Assad, without encountering any resistance from the inhabitants.

According to PAP, the first rebels who entered the mausoleum of Assad senior placed shoes on the tomb, which in Arab culture symbolises the deepest contempt. Hafez al-Assad passed away in 2000.

His son, Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded him in power, fled Damascus last weekend after nearly 25 years of rule when the rebels announced the end of his regime.

Bashar and his family appealed to Vladimir Putin for assistance and were granted asylum in Russia. This escape marked the end of the 53-year rule of the Assad dynasty.

However, the rebels do not conceal their animosity towards the dictator's family. None of its members can feel secure now.

On Monday at 12:00 GMT in the city of Latakia, rebels hanged Suleiman Hilal al-Assad, a cousin of the ousted dictator, from a crane. This information was reported in Arab media. Videos of the execution have been published.

These events mark the next phase in the ongoing conflict in Syria, which has destabilised the region for years. The situation in the country remains tense, and Syria's future is uncertain.

Source: PAP