Syrian Rebels Declare Damascus ‘Free’ as Bashar al-Assad Reportedly Flees

Syrian rebels have declared Damascus “free” of Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian rule, marking a dramatic end to his 24-year grip on power as government forces retreat from the capital.

Reports indicate Assad fled Damascus earlier on Sunday aboard a plane to an undisclosed location. 

In a televised statement, rebels announced the collapse of the regime following their surprise advance into the capital, a move that followed their capture of Homs, a strategic stronghold.

“We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains,” the rebels said, referring to the release of thousands of detainees from Saydnaya prison, notorious for housing and torturing Assad’s opponents. 

Witnesses reported jubilant scenes in Damascus, with thousands chanting “Freedom” and celebrating the end of the Assad family’s five-decade rule. Despite the apparent fall of the regime, the Syrian army stated it continued operations against “terrorist groups” in Hama, Homs, and the Deraa countryside. 

The collapse of Assad’s government marks a seismic shift in the region, undermining key allies Russia and Iran, which had backed his regime throughout the 13-year civil war.

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali expressed readiness to support a transitional government. Opposition leader Hadi al-Bahra declared that Damascus was now “without Bashar al-Assad.” 

Unverified footage showed a Syrian Air plane disappearing from radar after taking off from Damascus, fuelling speculation about Assad’s fate. “It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down,” a Syrian source suggested. 

The insurgents’ swift capture of Homs earlier set the stage for Assad’s downfall. Thousands of Homs residents celebrated in the streets as security forces hastily withdrew, burning documents and abandoning their positions. The city, long a symbol of resistance, has been devastated by years of siege warfare. 

As Syrians celebrated newfound freedom, international reactions were cautious. U.S. President Joe Biden stated that the administration was monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with regional allies. Meanwhile, analysts predict the fall of Assad could embolden Islamist factions, raising concerns over future governance in Syria. 

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 as an uprising against Assad’s rule, has devastated the country, killed hundreds of thousands, and displaced millions. 

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