Nearly a million Syrians in Germany alone have made new lives. But after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, some politicians across the continent have suggested that refugees could return home.

This account of al-Assad’s fall, much of which has not been previously reported, is based on interviews with Syrian, Iranian, Iraqi and Turkish officials; Damascus-based diplomats; associates of al-Assad; and rebels who participated in his ouster. Read more here.

Former German finance minister Christian Lindner has called for Syrian refugees in Germany to return to their home country after the sudden fall of long-time leader Bashar al-Assad. "For those people who came to us from Syria because of the civil war,

Judicial authorities in France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands have initiated proceedings against agents and senior officials of the former government, some of which have resulted in convictions.

A German court handed a 10-year jail term to a Syrian former militia leader on Wednesday for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed under former president Bashar al-Assad.

Donald Trump’s US presidential election win, the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and the Paris Olympics were among the news events that marked 2024.

Assad, an ophthalmologist who graduated from Damascus University (Syria) and specialised at the Western Eye Hospital in London (UK), had a sudden career shift to politics and became Syria's President in 2000 following the death of his father,

Putin, who said he hasn't spoken to Trump in four years, said he is open to meeting with the incoming U.S. president, who has repeatedly vowed to end the war in Ukraine soon after taking office on Jan. 20.

Donald Trump's US presidential election win, the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and the Paris Olympics were among the news events that marked 2024.AFP looks

European countries rapidly froze asylum claims after Assad's fall but Syrian refugees may have reason not to rush home

Chancellor Scholz says Berlin encouraged by signals from Damascus but emphasizes concrete steps toward inclusive government, rule of law, protection of minorities - Anadolu Ajansı

Giorgia Meloni's government tried to reposition itself in the Middle East, betting on the normalisation of relations with Assad in exchange for the protection of Christians and the return of refugees.