DAMASCUS — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s rule appears to have come to an abrupt end following a surprise rebel offensive that captured the capital, Damascus, on Sunday. According to multiple sources, Assad fled the city for an unknown destination, as rebel forces entered without facing significant resistance from the Syrian army.
Hadi al-Bahra, leader of Syria’s main opposition group, declared that Damascus is now “free of Bashar al-Assad.” Thousands of citizens celebrated in the streets, waving banners and chanting “Freedom,” as the opposition announced the fall of the regime.
In a statement on Telegram, the rebel group declared victory after “50 years of oppression” and 13 years of “tyranny, crime, and displacement.” The group promised a new era for Syria, one marked by peace, justice, and coexistence. “To the displaced all over the world, free Syria awaits you,” the statement read.
The swift collapse of Assad’s regime marks a dramatic shift in Syria’s long-running civil war, as anti-regime forces appear to have secured control of key areas in the capital and beyond.
