In December 2024, Syria's president Bashar al-Assad departed for Russia after militia forces took Damascus. An Al-Qaeda affiliated group led by Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani took power. New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman hooted that it was the " biggest... most game-changing event in the Middle East in the last 45 years." Yet until then, Al-Jolani was wanted for terrorism and had a U.S. State Department $10 million bounty on his head since 2017. The media-established story of popular " rebels" triumphing over " evil" has since dominated. Washington's role in this long-standing regime change operation was erased. This is the first comprehensive account of the U.S. regime change operation in Syria dating back decades. The goal was to end Syria's nationalist economic program, its support for the Palestinians, and its steadfast opposition to U.S. and Israeli hegemonic designs in Western Asia. The methods utilized fit a long-standing U.S. regime-change playbook applied worldwide. Key aspects include a protracted demonization campaign, imposition of crippling economic sanctions, and CIA financing of rebel groups under the billion-dollar Operation Timber-Sycamore.
