On 12 december 2024, Elise Daniaud Oudeh, our associate researcher and PhD candidate at LUISS Guido Carli University, commented on Bashar al-Assad’s striking silence amidst Syria’s latest crisis.

“Assad’s silence is telling,” she noted. “He hasn’t announced his departure, resignation, or even a position on recent events—remarkable for someone who once claimed to be the legitimate leader of Syria.”

Dr. Daniaud also highlighted the uneasy relationship between Assad and Vladimir Putin, describing the Syrian leader as an increasingly burdensome ally. “Putin’s disdain for Assad has often been evident in small gestures, such as not personally welcoming him during visits to Moscow,” she explained.

The full article is available in French.