A Syrian officer informed Reuters that Syria’s army command has notified its officers of the conclusion of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule following a swift rebel offensive.Syrian rebels proclaimed that Damascus was “now free of Assad” and urged citizens abroad to return to a “free Syria”, stating it is now liberated from the “tyrant”.
“Today, we announce the end of this dark period and the beginning of a new era for Syria, after 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years filled with crimes, tyranny, and forced displacement,” the rebels announced via Telegram.
According to two rebel sources, Syrian rebels plan to broadcast their first statement to the Syrian populace on state television.
Witnesses reported thousands gathered at a main square in Damascus, waving flags and chanting “Freedom”.
“We celebrate the liberation of our prisoners and the end of injustice in Sednaya prison with our fellow Syrians,” declared the rebels.
Sednaya prison, situated on the outskirts of Damascus, has detained thousands under the Syrian government.
At approximately the same time that the rebels were said to have taken control of the capital, a Syrian airplane departed from Damascus airport, as evidenced by data from the Flight radar website.
The aircraft initially headed towards Syria’s coastal region, the stronghold of Mr. Assad’s Alawite sect, but then performed an abrupt U-turn, flying in the opposite direction for several minutes before disappearing from radar.
Reuters has not yet been able to confirm who was on board the flight.
Anti-government fighters in Damascus
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali expressed readiness to “cooperate” with any leadership chosen by the populace.
In a speech shared on his Facebook account, Prime Minister Jalali stated, “This country has the potential to build healthy relationships with its neighbors and the world.”
“However, that decision rests with the leadership selected by the Syrian people. We’re prepared to cooperate with this leadership and provide all necessary support,” he added.
He also mentioned his readiness for any handover procedures.
Since November 27, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied factions have conducted a blitz offensive, reclaiming vast swathes of territory from government control, including significant cities like Aleppo, Hama, and Homs. Regions in the south and east have also transitioned from government control after local fighters took charge and Mr. Assad’s forces retreated.
The leader of the Islamist Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, instructed forces not to encroach upon official institutions in Damascus, stating they would remain under the prime minister’s authority until an “official” handover occurs.
In a Telegram statement, Mr. Jolani remarked: “To all military forces in the city of Damascus, it is strictly prohibited to approach public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister until they are officially transferred.”
“Firing into the air is forbidden,” he added, noting that he has begun using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, instead of his alias.
According to Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “Assad departed Syria via Damascus international airport before army security forces evacuated” the location.
After years of dormancy along the frontlines of Syria’s complex civil war, Islamist factions that were once affiliated with Al-Qaeda suddenly resumed activities, presenting the most significant challenge yet to Mr. Assad, who had managed to withstand years of grueling conflict and international isolation with support from Russia, Iran, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
However, his allies, preoccupied with other crises, left Mr. Assad vulnerable to his adversaries.
Just hours earlier, rebels declared they had gained complete control of the key city of Homs after only a day’s fighting, placing Mr. Assad’s 24-year rule in critical jeopardy.
Following the army’s withdrawal from central Homs, thousands of residents flooded the streets, celebrating and chanting, “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad”.
Rebels celebrated by firing into the air, and many youths tore down posters featuring the Syrian president, whose territorial control has plummeted in a rapid military retreat over the past week.
The loss of Homs has given insurgents control over Syria’s strategic heartland and a key crossroad highway, effectively severing the connection between Damascus and the coastal region, which is a stronghold of Mr. Assad’s Alawite sect and home to Russian military installations.
The capture of Homs serves as a powerful symbol of the rebel movement’s dramatic resurgence in the 13-year conflict. Homs experienced extensive devastation due to the grueling siege warfare between insurgents and the army years prior, which had forced the rebels out.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani labeled the conquest of Homs a historic milestone and urged fighters to spare “those who lay down their arms”.
Rebels freed thousands of detainees from the city prison, while security forces hastily departed after incinerating their documents.
Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani announced that operations were in progress to “completely liberate” the rural areas surrounding Damascus, with rebel forces setting their sights on the capital.
In some suburbs, a statue of Assad’s father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, was dismantled and destroyed. Outside the city, rebel forces rapidly took control of the entire southwest region within 24 hours.
Syrian rebel fighters were told to prepare to take the capital
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the prominent rebel leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, reiterated the historic significance of Homs’ capture and urged fighters to abstain from harming “those who surrender”.
Rebels liberated thousands of detainees from the city prison, while security forces fled urgently after burning their documents.
Numerous residents across various districts in Damascus gathered to protest against Mr. Assad, and security forces appeared unwilling or incapable of suppressing the unrest.
Rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani stated that missions were continuing to “fully liberate” the areas around Damascus, while rebel troops focused on the capital.
In one suburb, a statue of Hafez al-Assad was toppled and desecrated.
The Syrian army announced it was reinforcing positions around Damascus, with state television reporting on Saturday that Assad remained in the city.
In neighboring regions, rebels swiftly seized control of the entire southwest within a single day.
Existential threat to Assad’s rule
The fall of Homs, combined with the threat to the capital, poses an immediate existential threat to the Assad family’s decades-long reign over Syria, as well as to the enduring influence of its primary regional ally, Iran.
The rapid pace of events has caught Arab capitals off guard and raised concerns of a renewed wave of regional instability.
Countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Russia issued a joint statement, labeling the crisis a grave development and advocating for a political resolution.
Nonetheless, no consensus has emerged regarding definitive steps, as the situation in Syria continues to evolve by the hour.
The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011 as a response to Assad’s regime, has drawn in major foreign powers, facilitated the rise of jihadist militants planning global attacks, and displaced millions into neighboring nations.
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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the dominant rebel faction, is a former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, classified as a terrorist organization by the US and others, leaving many Syrians apprehensive about the potential enforcement of draconian Islamist rule.
Mr. Golani has attempted to reassure minorities of his non-interference in their affairs and to convey to the international community his opposition to Islamist attacks abroad. Reports indicate there have been no instances of reprisals in Aleppo, which the rebels captured just a week ago.
When queried on Saturday regarding his confidence in Mr. Golani, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”.
Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group reportedly withdrew from the Syrian city of Qusayr, located on the border with Lebanon, before rebel forces took control, according to Syrian army sources on Sunday.
At least 150 armored vehicles, transporting hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, vacated the city, which has historically been a transit point for arms and fighters moving in and out of Syria. Reports indicate that Israel targeted one of these convoys during its departure.
Allies’ role in supporting Assad
For years, Mr. Assad has relied on his allies to suppress the rebel movement. Russian air forces conducted extensive bombing campaigns while Iran dispatched allied forces, including Hezbollah and Iraqi militias, to reinforce the Syrian military and assault rebel strongholds.
However, since 2022, Russia’s focus has shifted towards the war in Ukraine, and Hezbollah has encountered significant losses in its ongoing conflict with Israel, critically impairing its capacity and that of Iran to support Assad.
US President-elect Donald Trump has asserted that the US should refrain from involvement in the conflict and allow it to “play out”.
