BREAKING : Rebel Forces Finally Overthrow Syrian Government
In a dramatic turn of events, the Assad family’s five-decade grip on Syria ended Sunday as opposition forces rapidly swept across government-held areas, capturing the capital in just ten days.
The head of a Syrian opposition monitoring group reported that President Bashar Assad fled the country to an undisclosed location ahead of rebel forces entering Damascus. Meanwhile, insurgent leaders claimed to have reached the capital following a swift and unexpected advance.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali stated the government was prepared to hand over power to a transitional authority. “I am in my house and I have not left, and this is because of my belonging to this country,” he said in a video message. Jalali assured citizens he would continue working and urged them to avoid damaging public property. However, he did not comment on reports of Assad’s departure.
Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told the Associated Press that Assad left Damascus by air on Sunday. Iranian state television, citing Qatar’s Al Jazeera network, also reported Assad’s departure but provided no additional details.
The Syrian government has yet to release an official statement addressing the president’s status.
As dawn broke over Damascus, celebrations erupted in the streets. Crowds gathered in mosques and squares, chanting slogans against Assad and honking car horns. Gunfire filled the air in some areas as revelers expressed their jubilation.
Abandoned government buildings, including the Ministry of Defense and police headquarters, were looted. An Associated Press journalist captured images of an empty army checkpoint near a discarded uniform and a tattered poster of Assad. Opposition-linked media showed a tank stationed in one of the capital’s main squares.
“It’s indescribable,” said 29-year-old lawyer Omar Daher. “After years of living in fear under Assad and his father, I can’t believe this day has come.” He added that his father was killed by government forces, and his brother remains detained with an uncertain fate.
Another Damascus resident, Ghazal al-Sharif, shared her relief. “Damn his soul and the soul of the entire Assad family,” she said. “It’s the prayer of every oppressed person, and God answered it today.”
The fall of Damascus marks the first time opposition forces have reached the city since 2018, when the government reclaimed areas on its outskirts after prolonged sieges.
Rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), began their lightning offensive on November 27. They quickly seized Aleppo, Hama, and Homs before turning their focus to the capital. Analysts called the capture of Homs—a strategic city linking Damascus to coastal strongholds—a critical moment in the campaign.
In response to the rebels’ advance, the United Nations announced the relocation of nonessential staff outside Syria as a precaution. Thousands of Syrians also rushed to the Lebanese border, only to be stranded when officials closed the main crossing late Saturday.
Despite state media denying reports of Assad’s departure, the situation remains dire for his regime. Russia, his main ally, is preoccupied with the war in Ukraine, and Hezbollah’s forces have been weakened by conflict with Israel. Iran, another key supporter, has seen its regional proxies degraded by frequent Israeli airstrikes.
Rebels have described their recent gains as the “final stage” of their campaign. Hassan Abdul-Ghani, an insurgent commander, announced on Telegram that Damascus was now encircled.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation. U.N. envoy Geir Pedersen called for urgent talks to facilitate a political transition, and foreign ministers from key regional powers met in Qatar to discuss Syria’s future.
As the dust settles on Assad’s apparent flight, the country faces an uncertain path forward. The opposition’s lightning success has altered the dynamics of the conflict, but the road to peace remains fraught with challenges.
(AP)
