President Bashar loses power as rebels take over Syria
Syria’s army command on Sunday notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule had ended, a Syrian officer familiar with the situation told Reuters. This comes after a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise.
Syrian rebels, who declared Damascus “now free of Assad,” are expected to make their first address to the Syrian people via state television, according to two rebel sources.
President Assad, known for suppressing dissent, fled Damascus to an undisclosed location earlier on Sunday, two senior army officers revealed. Rebels claim to have entered the capital without encountering army resistance.
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Thousands of Syrians gathered in a main square in Damascus, waving flags and chanting for “freedom” after enduring half a century of Assad family rule, witnesses reported.
This dramatic turn of events marks a seismic moment for the Middle East, ending the Assad family’s decades-long grip on Syria and dealing a significant blow to Russia and Iran, who have lost a key ally in the region.
“We celebrate with the Syrian people the liberation of prisoners and the end of the era of injustice at Sednaya Prison,” the rebels stated, referencing a notorious military prison near Damascus where thousands were held by the government.
A Syrian Air plane reportedly departed Damascus airport around the time rebels claimed control of the capital, as indicated by Flightradar data. The aircraft initially headed toward Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, before making an abrupt U-turn and disappearing from radar. It remains unclear who was aboard.
Hadi al-Bahra, head of Syria’s main opposition group, confirmed that Damascus is now “free of Bashar al-Assad.”
As jubilant crowds celebrated, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali pledged support for the continuity of governance and promised to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.
The White House announced that U.S. President Joe Biden and his team are closely monitoring these “extraordinary events” and are in contact with regional partners.
The sudden rebel resurgence has shocked observers, reviving fears of regional instability. Despite Assad’s years of resilience with help from Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, the current crisis overwhelmed his regime. Many of Assad’s allies, preoccupied with other conflicts, were unable to intervene decisively.
In Homs, a pivotal city, rebels claimed full control within a day of fighting, severing key access routes and marking the end of Assad’s dominance in Syria’s strategic heartland. Thousands of residents flooded the streets, chanting, “Assad is gone, Homs is free.”
The insurgents’ swift capture of Damascus and Homs underscores their revival in the 13-year-long conflict, once thought to have permanently sidelined them. Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani hailed the moment as historic, urging restraint toward those who surrender.
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