Syrian President Bashar Assad's ouster has ended Iran's 40-year dominance and quest for hegemony in the region, further weakened his allies in Lebanon and created a new opportunity for establishing normal relations.

Israel is celebrating the fall of Assad because it breaks the noose that Iran had been patiently tightening around Israel’s borders in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Tehran’s pincer is now broken and rendered useless. From the point of view of Israel’s wider conflict with the Islamic Republic, the collapse of Assad’s regime is a strategic victory.

Millions of Syrians fled their home country under the Assad regime. As they are contemplating whether to return to Syria, the fall of the regime has led to a new flow of refugees - Assad loyalists from the country's Shiite minority.

Syrian church leaders are advising Christians to scale back their celebrations this year, despite assurances from the Islamists who have just taken power that they are free to practice their religion.

Protests in Christian neighborhoods of Syria's capital city erupted after a Christmas tree was set ablaze weeks after the downfall of the nation's longtime dictatorship, according to multiple reports.

Hundreds of angry Syrian Christians held a protest march on Tuesday in Damascus after a Christmas tree was burned.