After Assad: Is Syria the New Libya in the Mediterranean? is a provocative and unrelenting dissection of a nation’s catastrophic descent into turmoil. Journalist Nilantha Ilangamuwa crafts a compelling narrative that examines the seismic aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s fall. The book does more than recount events—it compels readers to confront the intricate web of foreign interventions, regional ambitions, and internal fractures that have turned Syria into a theatre of devastation.
“I penned this brief reflection on Syria, driven by curiosity and compassion, but shaped by personal experiences that linger heavily in my thoughts. My encounters with Syrian journalists, politicians, and social activists during workshops and international seminars in cities such as Beijing, Tehran, Cairo, Doha, and Florence brought profound insights into a nation disintegrated by war and greed,” Ilangamuwa writes, adding, “If you travel at night from Tehran to Doha at lower altitudes, the contrast becomes brutally clear: one side sparkling with skyscrapers and lights, the other cloaked in darkness, a stark symbol of neglect and the endless weight of conflict. This image offers a haunting reminder of disparities and how ambitions have torn apart a once vibrant region.”
The book draws haunting parallels between post-Assad Syria and Libya following Gaddafi’s collapse. “The looting, territorial gains, and competing military interventions currently unfolding paint a grim picture of Syria’s precarious future,” the author writes, comparing the destruction of Syria’s institutions to Libya’s infamous descent into chaos.
What makes this work particularly impactful is the way it contextualises Syria’s tragedy within the broader dynamics of global power. The author is unsparing in his critique of foreign players. “Turkey’s strategic ambitions—particularly its desire to remove Kurdish autonomy—mirror its actions during the Syrian refugee crisis,” he notes, highlighting calculated geopolitical manoeuvres that prioritise power over humanitarian concerns. Similarly, Israel’s incursions into the Golan Heights and the United States’ shifting alliances are scrutinised with incisive detail. The author does not hesitate to label these actions as part of a broader strategy of exploitation. “Syria is not merely a battleground between Assad and his opposition. It is the epicentre of competing strategic goals,” he declares.
The book also examines internal struggles that exacerbate Syria’s plight. The rise of extremist factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the fracturing of opposition forces, and the manipulation of local conflicts by external actors are portrayed as symptoms of a deeper malaise. “What began as a cry for dignity and justice has now devolved into a battleground for dominance,” the author observes, driving home the tragic irony of Syria’s uprising. The 112-page book is available on Amazon (https://a.co/d/0CJlhDx). After Assad is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of post-Assad Syria. It is a masterfully written, deeply thought-provoking work that demands to be read and reckoned with.
