Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president who ruled with an iron fist for 23 years, has reportedly fled the country amid a resurgence of opposition forces. Ascending to power in 2000 after his father’s death, Assad faced the Arab Spring protests in 2011, leading to a brutal civil war that has resulted in over 500,000 deaths. Despite receiving support from Russia and Iran, recent attacks from rebels prompted his escape, symbolizing a significant shift in the ongoing conflict and the potential downfall of his regime.