Syrian rebels torch Hafez al‑Assad's tomb, end dynasty's reign

Syrian rebels have once again confronted the despised family of dictators who have ruled the country for five decades. The tomb of Hafez al-Assad, the founder of the Syrian dynasty, went up in flames.

"The tomb of the cursed dictator Hafez al-Assad was set on fire in Qardaha," reported pro-rebel journalist Nedal al-Amari on social media. Photos published by him show charred remains of the sarcophagus with rebels posing beside the Syrian flag.

A day earlier, the rebels entered Qardaha, the hometown of Bashar al-Assad, encountering no resistance from the inhabitants.

According to the Polish Press Agency, the first rebels who entered the mausoleum of Assad senior placed shoes on the tomb, a gesture of deep contempt in Arab culture. Hafez al-Assad died in 2000.

His son, Bashar al-Assad, who took over power from his father, fled Damascus last weekend after almost 25 years of rule when the rebels announced the end of his regime.

Bashar and his family turned to Vladimir Putin for assistance and were granted asylum in Russia. This escape ended the Assad dynasty's 53-year rule.

Nevertheless, the rebels do not conceal their hatred for the dictator's family. None of its members can feel safe now.

On Monday, in the city of Latakia, rebels hanged Suleiman Hilal al-Assad, a cousin of the deposed dictator, from a crane. This information appeared in Arab media, with videos of the man's execution being published.

These events are the latest development in the ongoing conflict in Syria, which has destabilized the region for years. The situation in the country remains tense, and Syria's future is uncertain.