Partisan in the sense of - there is a clear bias for the new regime, and against the old one. Not the literal sense. Note the weasel words from the first few paragraphs:

- "dictator"

- "henchmen"

- "conducted from the shadows"

- "regime"

- "brutal crushing"

- "pro-democracy uprising"

- "rebels"

One paragraph is almost entirely weasel words:

"But his most egregious action in the city, many argue, was his alleged involvement in the so-called Eid Massacre, known by some as the Children's Massacre, which the US noted when sanctioning him."

Okay, sure, maybe I’m blind to it, what is the other perspective in favor of the old regime

I don’t see the new one as being exalted, just present and on a fact finding mission.