Following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria on 8 December 2024 during major opposition offensives led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), many states and international organizations offered varied reactions. Several Western governments released statements welcoming the change in government, with some moving to suspend asylum applications for Syrian refugees. Members of the Syrian public and diaspora held demonstrations celebrating the fall of the regime.
National governments and institutions
Syria
Regime officials Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali expressed his commitment to uphold a stable government and readiness to collaborate with the leadership selected by the Syrian people. Former foreign minister Bassam al-Sabbagh said he was "surprised" to receive news of the siege in Damascus, saying it was a "historic and watershed event for all Syrians". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that its diplomatic representatives would continue to operate and serve its citizens overseas.
Ibrahim al-Hadid, who succeeded Bashar al-Assad as General Secretary of the Ba'ath Party, said that the party would support a transitional government to maintain Syrian unity.
Several high-ranking officials from Assad's regime and their families allegedly sought refuge in Hezbollah-controlled southern Beirut. Several of them, including Ali Mamlouk, Ghada Adib Mhanna and Firas Issa Shaleesh, were staying at luxury hotels and guarded by security officers. According to Beirut-based news outlet Nidaa al-Watan, their escape was planned several days before the fall of Damascus and facilitated by Hezbollah. A Lebanese border general security officer may have also been bribed several hundred thousand dollars to allow them into Lebanon.
Syrian opposition HTS declared Syria "liberated". The group issued proclamations via social media platforms announcing the conclusion of what they termed a "dark era" and promised a "new Syria" where "everyone lives in peace and justice prevails". Their statements specifically addressed displaced persons and former political prisoners, extending invitations for their return.
The president of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Hadi al-Bahra, announced the new government in December.
The National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change welcomed "what the Syrian people achieved on December 8, 2024" and declared that their aim is to "build a transitional phase to move from tyranny to democracy" to prevent "a new form of tyrannical rule".
Fighters of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) in northern Syria continued their offensive against U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces forces. On 9 December, SNA fighters captured the city of Manbij.
Other The Syrian Social Nationalist Party described it to be "necessary to work to find an acceptable and appropriate solution" to create "an authority emanating from the will of the Syrians" and has preservation the unity, society, interests, institutions the consolidation of the national state and Palestine as its "compass".
The People's Will Party "congratulate[d] the Syrian people on overcoming a black page in their history" called for a "smooth and peaceful transfer of power".
International Leaders and officials of the United States and Israel said they would not be involved with the situation in Syria.
G20 member states
: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship advised its citizens to flee the country as soon as possible. Accordingly, it warned those staying to monitor the situation. : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its commitment to a negotiated political solution to the crisis whilst maintaining Syria's territorial unity and sovereignty. Moreover, it pledged to support UN Security Council resolutions. : Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged all parties involved to respect human rights and hailed the end of the government, stating that the "fall of Assad's dictatorship ends decades of brutal oppression", adding that "A new chapter for Syria can begin here — one free of terrorism and suffering for the Syrian people". : A foreign ministry spokesperson said on 8 December that the Chinese government "is closely following the situation in Syria and hopes that stability will return as soon as possible" and "We urge relevant parties in Syria to ensure the safety and security of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria." : President Emmanuel Macron announced that "the barbaric state has fallen," and expressed France's commitment "to the security of all in the Middle East." : Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the situation as "good news". Foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said that Assad "must finally be held accountable" for his atrocities against the Syrian people. : The Indian external affairs ministry called for a peace process and the preservation of Syria's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ministry also said 90 Indian citizens were in Syria at the time which they were in contact with due to safety and security risks. By 13 December, the ministry evacuated 77 citizens who wanted to return while its embassy remained operational. : Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta called on the appropriate parties to protect the safety and security of the Syrian people and guarantees that Indonesia will continue to keep a careful eye on the situation in Syria. He underlined that Indonesia believes Syrians "can start a new and better life" and respects Syria's territorial integrity. : Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated that given the unpredictable Middle East scenario, Japan is closely monitoring the events in Syria with great concern and hopes that the violence would end quickly and that everyone in the country will be able to enjoy their basic human rights, freedom, dignity, and prosperity. He continued reiterating that Japan strongly asks all parties to cease hostilities as soon as possible, abide by international law, especially international humanitarian law, and take the required actions to ease tensions in the region. : The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs urged Mexicans in the area to defer to the Mexican embassy in Lebanon. : The Foreign Ministry confirmed that Assad resigned from the presidency and departed Syria for Russia after holding talks with the parties involved in the conflict, adding that "Russia did not take part in these talks." Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said he and the ministers of Turkey and Iran requested an "immediate end to hostile activities". : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "satisfaction with the positive steps" in Syria. Saudi Arabia called for "concerted efforts to preserve the unity of Syria and the cohesion of its people." : On 5 December the Department of International Relations stated that the country stood "in solidarity with the Government and people of the Syrian Arab Republic... [and] express[es] our grave concern at the offensive attack in Aleppo and Idlib by Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council, and a coalition of foreign mercenaries." : President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed hope for peace and stability in Syria after thirteen years of conflict and said his administration would intervene any attempts to disrupt Syrian territorial sovereignty, saying that "we cannot allow Syria to be divided again". Foreign minister Hakan Fidan said that "Syria has reached a stage where the Syrian people will shape the future of their own country." Fidan stated at a press conference in Doha that "there was no contact with Assad in his final days," emphasizing that Erdoğan "reached out to the regime to achieve national unity and peace, but Assad rejected it." Fidan also cautioned Kurdish groups against "taking advantage of the situation" as part of Turkey's attempt to prevent Kurdish control of the country, and in the aftermath pleaded for the international community to "unite and reconstruct" the country. : Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he welcomes the fall of "Assad's barbaric regime" and called for "peace and stability" in Syria. British foreign secretary David Lammy described Bashar as "the rat of Damascus, fleeing to Moscow with his tail between his legs." : President Joe Biden stated in a speech that "for the first time ever neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria," and claimed credit for Assad's overthrow, stating it was largely due to a combination of international sanctions, American military presence in Syria, and support for Israeli military operations against Iran-backed groups in the region. He further said that "some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses" and his administration will be monitoring them. Biden held a meeting with members of his national security team to address the situation. President-elect Donald Trump said that "Assad is gone. He fled his country" due to the fact that Assad's "protector," Russia, lost interest in Syria due to its war with Ukraine. He also referred to it as an "unfriendly takeover" by Turkey and called for non-interference in the conflict as it is "not our fight," declaring Syria to be "not our friend." Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the diplomats of Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, saying that Syrian territory should not be used to facilitate terrorist organisations. He also highlighted the need for chemical weapons to be seized and disposed, protection of minority groups, and protection of women's rights. On 10 December, Blinken said the United States would "recognize and fully support" the new Syrian government if the transition process were "credible, inclusive and nonsectarian" and met global guidelines. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Daniel B. Shapiro, said United States forces would remain in eastern Syria to prevent renewed Islamic State activities. He also pleaded for "all parties" to safeguard civilians and adhere to international norms, and added that "no one should shed any tears over the end of the Assad regime".
Arab world
: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged "unity and peace among all Syrian parties to preserve the country's security and stability and the unity and integrity of its territory," and called for dialogue between all parties involved. : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Bahrain is keeping a close eye on Syria's developments, in keeping with its concerns about security and stability, as well as its desire to protect civilians in compliance with international humanitarian law and maintain Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. It reaffirmed Bahrain's backing for regional and global initiatives to support the Syrian people and their hopes for a prosperous future marked by justice, security, stability, and togetherness. : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Egypt's support for Syria's "sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity," calling on all parties in the conflict to initiate a "comprehensive political process" to establish peace. Some Egyptians were less enthusiastic due to an uncertain future with the new government. Egyptian pro-government media also received Assad's loss negatively with political commentators describing it an "ill omen for Arab security." : The government issued an official statement stressing the need to respect the free will of all Syrians, and the importance of Syria's security, territorial integrity, and maintaining its independence. : King Abdullah II stated that Jordan stands with the Syrian people and respects their will and choices.