A Morning Brighter Than Snow: Syria's Dawn of Freedom

Last night, I went to bed with the intention, prayer, and hope that “God willing, by morning, Damascus will have been liberated.” On the morning of December 8, 2024, we woke up to this very news. Joy, gratitude, amazement, and excitement filled the air.

For the past few days, I’ve been saying to a few people around me, *“I’m witnessing the most predictable and strategically orchestrated developments of my career.”*

Let me be clear: for the past two months, I haven’t had the slightest doubt that the oppressive Assad regime was on its last legs. In fact, a few weeks ago, during a broadcast on TVNET, I stated, *“Assad’s only salvation is to cling to Erdoğan.”* And indeed, Bashar al-Assad’s sole chance was the political path Erdoğan had outlined. But Assad didn’t grasp this. Instead, he gave flamboyant interviews, rejecting Erdoğan’s extended hand, dismissing the idea with remarks like, *“Why would I meet Erdoğan? To have a drink?”* What struck me, though, was Erdoğan’s remarkable patience. He refrained from responding to Assad’s taunts and consistently called for dialogue, urging, *“Let’s talk and solve this issue.”*

So, how did it come to this? How did the opposition forces unite under the Syrian National Army and, in less than two weeks, enter Damascus, toppling a 61-year-old regime?

The answer lies in President Erdoğan’s day-by-day, step-by-step approach. Despite the games the U.S. has been playing in our region for years, Türkiye employed a subtle but clear strategy: acting as though uninvolved, yet unmistakably in control. It’s a strategy that doesn’t insult its counterparts’ intelligence, but declares, *“I may not be physically present, but I’m the one orchestrating the field—make no mistake about it.”*

Yet, doubts linger. There are still those who question their country and its leadership. Questions abound:

- How did this advance happen?

- Where does the U.S. stand in all of this?

- How did the opposition forces advance so quickly, and who paved the way for them?

- Where is Russia?

- What happened to Iran?

- Why isn’t the regime resisting?

- And most curiously: where is Türkiye in all of this?

For those seeking clarity, they only need to pay close attention to the calculated moves of the “master strategist.” Looking back at the messages and maneuvers of Erdoğan and Bahçeli over the past year offers answers. In my view, MHP leader Bahçeli’s words on May 28, 2023, the night Erdoğan was re-elected, were prophetic:

*“In the coming days, much will change—everything will change. Let’s hope Türkiye remains unchanged.”*

Some may ask, *“Are you saying Assad’s downfall was decided during the May 28 elections?”* That’s exactly what I believe. If the People’s Alliance hadn’t won on May 14, and if Erdoğan hadn’t been re-elected on May 28, Bashar al-Assad would still be in his palace in Damascus, inflicting unspeakable atrocities on Syrians returned from Türkiye. The clearest proof of this is the statement Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made as the Syrian opposition advanced on Damascus.

When Aleppo was liberated, the former CHP leader’s comments eerily echoed Assad’s last-minute pleas to the U.S. for help: *“Türkiye must rid itself of this centralized, authoritarian palace regime as soon as possible.”*

Why did Türkiye need to “get rid of Erdoğan”? Because a move was underway in Syria—and across the region—that would reshape the geopolitical landscape. Kılıçdaroğlu saw this coming. Thankfully, he wasn’t president. That’s why Erdoğan’s May 28 victory became the cornerstone of the “December 8 Syrian Revolution.”

The answers to these lingering questions also lie in Erdoğan’s speech during his party’s group meeting on October 30:

*“God willing, in the coming period, we will deliver new glad tidings to our nation—securing the safety of our southern borders and guaranteeing the lives and property of our people.”*

This naturally brought to mind Devlet Bahçeli’s call regarding Abdullah Öcalan and the possibility of a comprehensive operation against the PKK. But Türkiye’s struggle against the PKK had already extended far beyond its borders. The move that would secure our southern flank was directed at Assad, who had opened the way for the PKK and surrendered cities to them.

The simplest answer to *“How did Assad fall within a week?”* lies in Türkiye’s simultaneous game-changing and game-breaking moves across its borders, its region, and within its own territory. The equations didn’t just change in Syria—they shifted sociologically and geopolitically across the board. We must read these developments carefully. This revolution wasn’t solely carried out by the Syrian people; it was a reversal of the so-called “Arab Spring” that had turned the Middle East into a raging inferno. It was the completion of unfinished revolutions and a response to pseudo-revolutions like Egypt’s Sisi regime, paving the way for democracy and freedom for the oppressed.

In the days to come, we’ll revisit these events and dissect the underlying messages. For now, one thing is clear: the long-sung anthem, *“A morning will come, brighter than snow,”* has finally come to life. This revolution belongs not just to the oppressed people of Syria, but to all who have the courage to call out tyranny.

One final note: figures like Kılıçdaroğlu, Akşener, Özdağ, İmamoğlu, and Yavaş built their political careers on promises of expelling Syrian refugees and defeating Erdoğan. They failed every time. Now, Erdoğan has not only outlasted them but also sent their “man in Damascus” packing. As Assad leaves Damascus, some will face an existential void. Time will reveal how they grapple with it.