The new Damascus authorities can set their country on a path to peace – or plunge it deeper into turmoil More than two weeks have passed since Bashar Assad left Syria, yet events surrounding his departure remain shrouded in mystery. Questions about why it happened, who stands to benefit, and what the future holds for Syria continue to captivate the global community. The office of the former Syrian president, ousted during an offensive by opposition forces, released a statement in his name.