The 24-year rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria appears to have come to an end after rebel groups seized Damascus in the early hours of Sunday.
The insurgent forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), had earlier entered Syria’s third-largest city of Homs before launching an offensive on Damascus.
Quoting senior military officials, Reuters said Assad has fled Damascus by plane.
The rebels have reportedly freed inmates from Saydnaya prison where thousands of opposition supporters are kept.
HTS announced on Telegram that the prisoners had been let go, calling it “the end of the era of injustice” in Saydnaya.
The United Nations had described the prison as a “human slaughterhouse” where opponents of the Assad rule are tortured and executed.
In a speech posted on social media, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali said he would remain in Damascus and that Syria “can be a normal country that builds good relations with its neighbours and the world”.
Hadi al-Bahra, Syria’s opposition leader, confirmed that the Assad government had been toppled while assuring citizens that their “dignity” would be respected.
“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.
“There will be no cases of revenge or retaliation, and no violations of human rights. People’s dignity will be respected and their dignity will be preserved.”
UN, US REACTIONS
As the situation escalated, the UN withdrew its “non-critical” staff from the country.
The White House said US President Joe Biden is monitoring the “extraordinary events” while President-elect Donald Trump said: “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend.”
“The United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved,” he posted on Truth Social.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the rebel group HTS, said Syrian institutions “will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister until they are officially handed over”.
Before the recent events, the Assad family had controlled Syria for nearly 54 years.
Footage shared on social media Sunday morning showed people celebrating in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.
In Damascus, residents trampled on the fallen statue of Hafez al-Assad, the president’s father, who ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly 30 years.
