Syrian rebel fighters have destroyed the tomb of late president Hafez al-Assad, father of ousted president Bashar, in the family's hometown. Videos verified by the BBC showed armed men chanting as they walked around the burning mausoleum in Qardaha, in the north-west of the coastal Latakia region.

"Perhaps Islamic rule will come … and the regime will become totalitarian again," SDC adviser Riad Darar told Newsweek.

Assad, combined to rule Syria for more than 50 years, always with an iron fist that crushed dissent and relied on the country's feared security forces.

Syrian rebel fighters have destroyed the tomb of former president Hafez al-Assad, father of ousted president Bashar al-Assad, in a symbolic move marking the end of the Assad family’s 54-year rule. Videos online show armed rebels,

Eyewitness footage shows Syrian men gathering around the burning tomb of ousted president Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad. Credit: Social Media

Ahmed al-Sharaa meets in Damascus with Turkish top diplomat and Lebanese Druze leader, vowing to end 'negative interference in Lebanon

The tomb of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez was torched in his hometown of Qardaha, footage taken Wednesday, December 11, showed, with rebel fighters in fatigues and young men watching it burn.

The Assad regime cultivated ethnic and religious divides that threaten Syria's future even after the dynasty's fall.

Syria has had a week like no other, rebels toppling President Bashar al-Assad and opening Saydnaya prison, while the hunt for American Austin Tice continues.

As rebels seize control in Syria after more than a decade of war, the future is uncertain. Key concerns include al-Assad's allies, regional dynamics, and potential for further conflict.View on euronew

The luxurious compound, made up of three six-story buildings surrounded by manicured gardens, was a symbol of Assad’s power.