December 8th, 2024. Syria.

The Assad regime collapsed almost overnight. Since then, everything has been moving fast. 

Despite a troubling past, the new president is shaking hands with world leaders. Western countries are lifting sanctions. Syria, once a pariah state, is welcomed back into the Arab League, received at the Élysée, and hosted at the White House.

But one question lingers: How is Syria really doing?

This is a partial account of what went right and what went wrong, beyond the handshakes, receptions, and press conferences.