The Syrian government fell early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days.
Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar al-Assad had been overthrown and all detainees in jails had been set free.
The man who read the statement said the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, an opposition group, called on all opposition fighters and citizens to preserve state institutions of “the free Syrian state.”
Residents were seen cheering in the streets of the capital, as the rebel factions heralded the departure of “tyrant” Assad and “declare the city of Damascus free.”
“After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and (forced) displacement… we announce today the end of this dark period and the start of a new era for Syria,” the rebel factions said on Telegram.
Syria’s army command notified officers on Sunday that Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule had ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters, following the rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise.
Residents of the capital reported hearing gunfire and explosions. Footage broadcast on opposition-linked media showed a tank in one of the city’s central squares while a small group of people gathered in celebration. Calls of “God is great” rang out from mosques.
Assad, who had crushed all forms of dissent, flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters, as rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.
Thousands in cars and on foot congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting “Freedom” from a half-century of Assad family rule, witnesses said.
The dramatic collapse marks a seismic moment for the Middle East, ending the family’s iron-fisted rule over Syria and dealing a massive blow to Russia and Iran, which have lost a key ally at the heart of the region.
In one suburb, a statue of Assad’s father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, was toppled and torn apart.
Outside the city, rebels swept across the entire southwest over 24 hours and established control.
“We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” the rebels said, referring to a large military prison on the outskirts of Damascus where the Syrian government detained thousands.
Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said that it was prohibited to go near public institutions that he said would remain under the supervision of the “former prime minister” until they were officially handed over.
Footage shared online showed people storming Assad’s abandoned palace in the capital.
Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said that it was prohibited to go near public institutions that he said would remain under the supervision of the “former prime minister” until they were officially handed over.
Footage shared online showed people storming Assad’s abandoned palace in the capital.
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