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Who overthrew Assad – God or the Syrians?

The recent toppling of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad raises many questions. Nothing lasts forever, neither the Assad regime nor the regime of the ayatollahs in Tehran.

A torn portrait of deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, on December 16, 2024. EPA-EFE/ANTONIO PEDRO SANTOS
A torn portrait of deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, on December 16, 2024. EPA-EFE/ANTONIO PEDRO SANTOS

Dictators come and go. But none of them go voluntarily. The Alawite Assad family ruled Syria for over 50 years until Sunni rebels overthrew the brutal regime last month. Nothing new under the sun, because people tend to subjugate other people. People like to rule by force and oppress others – until they themselves are overthrown. In Syria, Sunnis praise Allah for the successful revolution. On social media, citizens and jihadists alike thank Allah for this victory. Similarly, in Israel, political developments are perceived by large sectors of the population as the hand of God. Israel and the Arab world often share a view of divine intervention in politics – something that has been increasingly lost in the West. Rabbis have stated in various forums that “God intervenes on all fronts and stands by His people. The ruler in Syria has fallen, and this opens up new opportunities for Israel.” As God acted in biblical times, so He acts in these days with regard to Israel. And this is how the majority of Israelis understand it.

There are several examples in the Bible of deposed kings and rulers that serve as cautionary tales of divine justice and human hubris. Kings are often described in the Bible as being overthrown by God when they rebel against His commandments or act unjustly and wickedly. For example, King Saul was overthrown by God because he was disobedient (1 Samuel 15:23). Biblical prophets such as Jeremiah and Isaiah warned kings of their downfall if they did not repent and follow God’s ways. These prophecies often contained specific warnings about the destruction of their kingdoms and the loss of power.

The stories of kings are often used to teach moral and ethical lessons. A well-known example is King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4, who was overthrown by God because of his pride and arrogance and temporarily lost his mind until he regained his humility. Likewise, the Bible describes the fate of kings like Ahab (1 Kings), who worshipped idols and persecuted God’s prophets. Such stories often end with their defeat and overthrow, which is interpreted as a direct result of their turning away from God. A recurring theme in the Bible, however, is the possibility of repentance. Some kings who sinned and turned away from God found grace and were restored after they repented. They were not overthrown.

Another aspect is seen in the story of King Rehoboam (931 BC), the son of Solomon. Although he was not overthrown directly, his actions led to the division of the people of Israel into two kingdoms. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel defected and founded the northern Kingdom of Israel, while Rehoboam ruled only over the southern Kingdom of Judah. ​​The division began when the people demanded that he reduce the hard labor and high taxes that his father had introduced. Rehoboam sought advice, but while the older advisers urged him to be lenient, the younger advisers recommended a tougher line. Rehoboam decided to increase the burdens, which sparked a rebellion. This development fulfilled a prophecy that God had given to Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah. Jeroboam, a high official under Solomon, had fled to Egypt to escape Solomon’s anger. The prophecy predicted that Jeroboam would become king over ten tribes as punishment for Solomon’s apostasy and worship of foreign gods. Jeroboam returned from Egypt and was crowned king of the northern tribes of Israel.

These Bible stories not only document historical events, but also convey deeper spiritual truths and lessons about justice, power, humility, and the need to seek and obey God’s will. They show that true power and security can only come from God and that He ultimately decides the fate of the kings and rulers of this world.

What leads to revolutions is the discontent of the people. According to Scripture, this is a tool of God. The question is whether we want to believe that God is behind it, or whether it is just a political coincidence or a natural development. Our enemies in the region, on the other hand, firmly believe that Allah is behind all developments in the Middle East – both good and bad. Regimes that attempt to maintain power through violence and repression provoke protests and uprisings that ultimately lead to their overthrow. Popular discontent, triggered by economic problems such as high inflation, unemployment, public debt, and lack of resources, amplifies calls for a change of government. Corruption in government undermines the population’s trust in its leadership. Inefficiency and mismanagement, especially in times of crisis, also lead to a loss of trust and can ultimately result in the overthrow of the government. Mass protests and civil movements, often triggered by a combination of these factors, are typically the immediate triggers of revolutions.

The military often plays a crucial role in this, especially in countries where it is heavily involved in politics, such as Egypt under Fattah al-Sisi. Coups are often initiated by military leaders seeking to bring about political change or secure their own power. Revolutions and changes of power have often been triggered by revolutionary movements, foreign interventions, or internal coups. Many overthrown leaders fled into exile, were imprisoned, or even executed.

A picture taken on February 11, 2011 during anti-government protests in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. Photo: EPA/KHALED ELFIQI.

Well-known examples of overthrown dictators and heads of state include:

  • Imam Ahmad bin Yahya (North Yemen, 1962)
    During the 1962 Yemeni revolution against the Kingdom of North Yemen, Imam Ahmad fled after army officers staged a coup with Egyptian support.
    Fate: Died in exile shortly after being deposed.
  • Salvador Allende (Chile, 1973)
    Economic problems, international pressure and military opposition led to Allende’s overthrow in 1973 by a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet.
  • Idi Amin (Uganda, 1979)
    After the invasion of Tanzanian troops and the uprising of Ugandan rebels, Idi Amin fled to Saudi Arabia in 1979 after eight years of brutal rule.
    Fate: Died in Saudi exile in 2003.
  • Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Iran, 1979)
    The Shah of Iran was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution when massive protests and the return of Ayatollah Khomeini ended his rule. He fled first to Egypt, then to various countries.
    Fate: Died in Egyptian exile in 1980.
  • Jean-Claude Duvalier “Baby Doc” (Haiti, 1986)
    Growing protests against corruption and mismanagement forced him to leave the country. He fled to France on February 7, 1986.
    Fate: Died in Haiti in 2014 after returning in 2011.
  • Ferdinand Marcos (Philippines, 1986)
    Following the People Power Revolution and massive protests against his corrupt and authoritarian rule, Marcos fled to Hawaii with his family on February 25, 1986, mediated by the United States.
    Fate: Died in exile in the United States in 1989.
  • Habib Bourguiba (Tunisia, 1987)
    Bourguiba, the first president of Tunisia, was deposed in a bloodless coup by his prime minister, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. He was placed under house arrest and isolated from the public.
    Fate: Spent the last years of his life under house arrest until his death in 2000.
  • Nicolae Ceaușescu (Romania, 1989)
    The Romanian dictator and his wife Elena fled during the Romanian Revolution as the population revolted against brutal communist rule. On December 22, 1989, they were abandoned by the army and attempted to escape by helicopter. They were captured, tried and executed.
    Fate: Executed on December 25, 1989.
  • Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani (Qatar, 1995)
    Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani was overthrown in a bloodless coup by his son Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani while he was abroad.
    Fate: Lived in exile in France until he was allowed to return to Qatar in 2004. Died in 2016.
  • Saddam Hussein (Iraq, 2003)
    After the US-led invasion, Saddam Hussein fled Baghdad and went into hiding. The aim of the invasion was to end his authoritarian rule. He was captured in December 2003 in a hideout near Tikrit.
    Fate: Executed in 2006 after a trial.
  • Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia, 2011)
    Ben Ali was the first Arab ruler to be overthrown during the Arab Spring. Mass protests against corruption, unemployment and oppression forced him to flee to Saudi Arabia on January 14, 2011.
    Fate: Lived in exile in Saudi Arabia until his death in 2019.
  • Ali Abdullah Saleh (Yemen, 2011)
    During the Arab Spring, Saleh was overthrown by protests and an armed uprising after decades of rule. In 2011, he temporarily left Yemen but returned to maintain his influence.
    Fate: Killed in 2017 by the Houthi rebels with whom he had previously allied himself.
  • Hosni Mubarak (Egypt, 2011)
    During Egypt’s 2011 revolution, Mubarak was overthrown after 30 years of authoritarian rule. He resigned on February 11, 2011, and retreated to his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh to avoid a larger confrontation.
    Fate: Was tried but later acquitted. Died in Egypt in 2020.
  • Muammar al-Gaddafi (Libya, 2011)
    Gaddafi ruled Libya with an iron fist for 42 years. A civil war broke out during the Arab Spring, and NATO supported the rebels. Gaddafi fled Tripoli, but was captured and killed by rebels in Sirte in October 2011.
    Fate: Brutally murdered by rebels.
Libyans step on a picture of deposed dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi at the Libyan embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, on July 25, 2011. The Libyan consul in Bulgaria switched sides and supported the rebels. Photo: EPA/VASSIL DONEV.

About the author

Patrick Callahan

This is an example of author bio/description. Beard fashion axe trust fund, post-ironic listicle scenester. Uniquely mesh maintainable users rather than plug-and-play testing procedures.

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