The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has sparked warnings of a looming migrant crisis. With President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia over the weekend, European leaders welcomed the regime’s fall, but the resulting instability may drive millions of Syrians toward Europe, echoing the 2015 migrant crisis.
Bashar al-Assad’s departure marked the end of a 50-year rule by his family. Rebel forces, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaeda affiliate, took Damascus, prompting globalist leaders to celebrate. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed support for a “free and safe Syria,” while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Assad’s removal. However, concerns are mounting over a potential wave of migration similar to the one following the 2011 fall of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi.
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally leader, Jordan Bardella, warned of significant migratory flows driven by Islamist factions now controlling Syria. He criticized Western-led regime changes in the Middle East for creating long-term instability. Germany, which accepted nearly one million Syrian refugees during the last crisis, is particularly vulnerable. Recent terror attacks have reignited debates over deportations, with courts ruling that parts of Syria are now safe for return.
The UN World Food Program has warned of a food crisis displacing up to 1.5 million Syrians. Many will seek refuge in Europe, where generous welfare systems and housing remain an incentive. British MP Rupert Lowe of Reform UK called for stricter immigration policies, urging immediate deportation for illegal migrants.
As European nations brace for another surge, questions linger over whether the West’s foreign interventions have created more problems than solutions. Stronger border policies and a focus on stabilizing Syria may be essential to prevent further upheaval.
