Anadolu publishes book on Syria’s 6-decade Baath regime and its collapse

ISTANBUL / ANKARA

Anadolu’s publishing arm on Saturday released a comprehensive new book titled The Syrian Revolution: From Ba’ath Oppression to Freedom detailing the collapse of Syria’s 61-year-long Baath regime.

The 327-page volume, published in both Turkish and English, presents the events leading to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime through reports, photographs, and interviews compiled by Anadolu correspondents.

The book narrates the critical stages of the regime’s downfall, culminating in opposition forces seizing control of the capital, Damascus, on Dec. 8, 2024.

Drawing on visuals and testimonies from the ground, it provides in-depth documentation of mass graves, torture sites, forced displacements, and personal accounts, aiming to preserve the historical record of the Baath dictatorship and to guide ongoing justice efforts.

Sections of the book cover key periods such as the 12 days that led to the regime’s collapse, the widespread public celebrations that followed, and evidence collected on war crimes and systemic abuses.

It also highlights witness testimonies from victims and outlines the profiles of alleged war criminals still awaiting trial.

The final section addresses the first election held after the regime's collapse.

In his foreword, Anadolu CEO Serdar Karagoz emphasized that the Syrian uprising, which began in 2011, rapidly turned into a complex civil conflict involving both regional and global powers.

He noted that the regime's eventual defeat revealed extensive documentation of human rights violations, including war crimes, torture centers, and systematic violence against civilians.

Karagoz stated that the book approaches Syria’s transformation with an interdisciplinary lens, combining news reports, analytical pieces, verified documents, and witness statements to deliver a holistic perspective.

He underlined that the publication is intended not only to inform the public using accurate, on-the-ground information but also to serve as a resource for academic research and human rights investigations.

The book also traces how the Assad regime’s decision to suppress dissent with military force led to a 13-year spiral of violence, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and nearly 2 million injured.

One of the most devastating outcomes was the displacement of more than 13 million Syrians, either across borders or within the country itself.

The regime ultimately collapsed when opposition forces captured Damascus at the end of 2024, marking the end of an era shaped by authoritarian rule and prolonged civil war.