https://arab.news/2xara
On Dec. 7 and 8, I participated in debates on the Al Arabiya network regarding leaked videos featuring former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his deceased media adviser Luna Al-Shibl, which were broadcast by Al Arabiya and Al Hadath. The footage documented exchanges between Assad and Al-Shibl during field tours believed to have taken place in 2018.
My analysis, which I partially shared on the “Hour of Dialogue” program, emphasized that the videos’ most significant message should resonate with Assad’s supporters — whether in Syria, Lebanon or Iraq, especially those aligned with the so-called Axis of Resistance. The recordings expose Assad as a leader indifferent to his people and dismissive of his allies, revealing the mentality that governed Syria for decades and plunged the country into prolonged civil war with armed groups, both domestic and foreign.
This climate provided fertile ground for extremist organizations like Al-Qaeda and Daesh to flourish, though Assad could have avoided these catastrophic consequences through genuine reforms that improved living standards and fulfilled Syrian aspirations for prosperity and stability.
These videos arriving a year after Assad’s regime fell doubled their political weight and guaranteed a substantial viewership. They facilitate comprehension of events and explain why such a swift disintegration transpired within mere days.
