The 24-year reign of Bashar al-Assad in Syria appears to have come to an abrupt end after rebel forces captured Damascus early Sunday morning, marking a dramatic turning point in the country’s prolonged civil war.
Rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), reportedly entered Damascus after taking control of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, in a swift and coordinated offensive.
According to military officials quoted by Reuters, Assad fled the capital by plane.
In one of the most symbolic acts of the rebellion, HTS announced on Telegram that they had freed inmates from the notorious Saydnaya prison, often referred to by the UN as a “human slaughterhouse.” Thousands of opposition supporters had been detained there, enduring years of torture and execution under Assad’s rule. HTS called the event “the end of the era of injustice” in Saydnaya.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, speaking from Damascus, vowed to remain in the capital, stating that Syria “can become a normal country that builds good relations with its neighbors and the world.”
Hadi al-Bahra, leader of Syria’s opposition, confirmed the government’s collapse and assured citizens of their safety. “To our people of all sects and religions, as long as you do not raise arms against any other citizen and as long as you stay in your homes, you are safe,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He promised no acts of revenge or human rights violations.
The United Nations has withdrawn its non-critical staff from Syria as the situation escalated.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the unfolding events, while President-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, emphasising that the US should not get involved. “Syria is a mess but is not our friend,” he wrote, adding “Let it play out. Do not get involved.”
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of HTS, stated that Syrian institutions would remain under the supervision of former Prime Minister al-Jalali until they could be formally handed over to a new administration.
Across Syria, celebrations erupted in cities like Aleppo, where residents flooded the streets. In Damascus, citizens were seen toppling and trampling on a statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father, who ruled Syria with an iron fist for nearly three decades before Bashar’s ascension in 2000.
The fall of Assad marks the end of the Assad family’s 54-year dominance over Syria and opens a new, uncertain chapter for the war-torn nation.
