The fall of an ally’s regime can trigger a swift and visible shift in narratives. Russia's reaction to the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria is a case in point.
What began as a campaign to vilify Syrian rebels has rapidly morphed into an effort to engage with the new powers rising from the ashes of Assad’s rule, according to Digi24.
For years, Russia had been Assad's staunchest ally, supporting him militarily and politically through Syria’s prolonged civil war.
Moscow consistently referred to opposition groups as “terrorists,” accusing them of destabilizing the region with external backing.
Changed Over Night
As recently as early December, Russian officials like Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the Syrian rebels’ offensive, while state media outlets painted them as a grave threat to stability.
One prominent Russian news agency claimed U.S. and Ukrainian forces were secretly aiding the opposition.
However, everything changed after December 8, when Assad’s regime officially fell. Rebels took control of Damascus and other major cities in a rapid offensive, forcing Assad to seek asylum in Russia.
Almost overnight, the tone of Russian state media shifted. The rebels were no longer referred to as terrorists but as “new authorities” or “opposition forces.”
This sudden change was most evident in Russia’s official communications.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released statements indicating that Moscow was in dialogue with Syrian opposition leaders, a move unimaginable just days earlier.
Russian media began reporting on the new government’s control over strategic locations like Tartus, where Russia maintains a military base.
Even the Syrian embassy in Moscow raised the opposition's flag, a potent symbol of the regime change.
Critics argue that this pivot in rhetoric is more about damage control than genuine acceptance. With its military presence in Syria at risk, Russia appears to be recalibrating its strategy to maintain influence in the region.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia would engage with Syria’s new government “once the situation stabilizes.”
