Syrian rebel takeover will have ‘extraordinary’ ripple effect equivalent to Berlin Wall, GOP representative predicts

A rebel group overthrew a long-time Syrian dictator Bashar Assadmarking a monumental turning point in the nearly 14-year civil war.

The takeover, which forced Assad to flee the country, could cause “extraordinary” ripple effects in the Middle East rivaling those that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall, according to one GOP lawmaker.

“This is so significant. The fall of the Assad dictatorship. The ripple effect of this is just going to be extraordinary,” said Rep. Joe Wilson, RS. Fox Report Sunday. “It’s really equivalent to the Berlin Wall, which led to a ripple effect of dozens of countries becoming free after 50 years of occupation and totalitarian control.”

SYRIAN DICTATOR BASHAR ASAD FLEES INTO EXILE AS ISLAMIST REBELS CONQUER THE COUNTRY

Bashar al-Assad fled Syria after rebels stormed the capital Damascus on Saturday. Assad, whose government has repeatedly used chemical weapons against its own residents, reportedly fled with his wife and children.

President Biden said this during a speech on Sunday of the United States he had no confirmation of Assad’s whereabouts, noting that “he is rumored to be in Moscow.”

Wilson argued that Israel’s success in weakening Iran and its proxies, as well as Ukraine’s “weakening” of Russia, led to developments in Syria. He predicted that this would have a “dramatic impact on the ability of war criminal Putin to exercise his capabilities.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday touted the fall of the Assad regime, saying it was a “direct result” of Israeli attacks on Iran and Hezbollah, noting that the overall situation was “fraught with significant dangers.”

FALL OF Assad REGIME ‘MOMENT OF HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY’ FOR SYRIA, BIDEN SAYS

A coalition of mostly radical Islamist groups toppled the Iran-backed Assad regime. A terrorist group designated by the US Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)Al-Qaeda’s former Islamist affiliate, which is part of the rebel forces, played a decisive role in ousting Assad, who inherited his presidency in 2000 after the death of his father, Hafez Assad.

“And finally, we will remain vigilant.” Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that ousted Assad have their own dark records of terrorism and human rights abuses. We have taken into account the statements of the leaders of these rebel groups in recent times. days And they’re saying the right things now, but as they take on more responsibility, we’re going to judge not just their words, but their actions,” Biden continued on Sunday.

The president detailed that, after Assad’s departure to rebel forces, the US would support Syria’s neighboring countries — such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel — “if there is any threat from Syria during this transition period.” Biden said the effort would include senior administration officials meeting with world leaders, with the president also speaking directly with leaders of neighboring countries.

While questions swirl around how Middle Eastern the country will be governed after a rebel takeover, Rep. Wilson believed that the Syrian people “as a diaspora will push for a free and democratic Syria.”

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Fox News’ Emma Colton, Benjamin Weinthal and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.