Syrian opposition forces claim to have liberated Damascus, asserting that Bashar al-Assad has fled the capital

Syria’s rebel factions assert that they have successfully entered Damascus, with a source close to the situation informing CNN that operatives are establishing significant positions within the capital. “From a military standpoint, Damascus has fallen,” the source stated, following a rapid offensive by the rebel coalition across the nation.

According to a source, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is currently unaccounted for in Damascus; however, officials from Syria‘s presidential office and Iranian representatives insist that he remains in the capital. U.S. officials have indicated  that his regime may be on the verge of collapse. The rebels report that they are in communication with high-ranking officers from the Assad regime who are contemplating defection.

Additionally, Syrian rebels have announced the “full liberation” of Homs, the country’s third-largest city, just over a week after seizing Aleppo. Residents have been observed removing posters of Assad, evoking memories of the pro-democracy demonstrations that took place during the Arab Spring over a decade ago.

On Sunday, rebel forces in Syria proclaimed Damascus “free,” asserting that Bashar al-Assad has abandoned the capital, as stated in a message released by the Military Operations Command on Telegram.

“We declare the city of Damascus liberated from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” the statement read.

“To all those displaced around the world, a free Syria awaits you,” it continued.

The rebels had previously claimed to have entered the capital and taken control of the infamous Saydnaya Military Prison located north of Damascus.

Syria’s military leadership has informed its officers that the 24-year authoritarian regime of President Bashar al-Assad has come to an end, according to a Syrian officer who spoke to Reuters. This announcement follows a swift offensive by rebel forces that caught the international community off guard.

Rebels declared that Damascus is “now free of Assad.” Reports indicate that the leader, who has suppressed all opposition, departed from Damascus for an undisclosed location on Sunday, as two senior military officials confirmed to Reuters that rebels had entered the capital without any visible military presence.

Witnesses reported that thousands gathered in a central square in Damascus, celebrating and chanting “Freedom” in response to the end of the Assad family’s long-standing rule. The rebels expressed their joy, stating, “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.” Sednaya prison, located on the outskirts of Damascus, has been notorious for holding thousands of detainees.

Around the time reports emerged of the capital being overtaken by rebels, a Syrian Air plane departed from Damascus airport, as indicated by data from the Flightradar website. The aircraft initially headed towards Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made a sudden U-turn and flew in the opposite direction before vanishing from radar. Reuters has not yet been able to confirm the identity of those on board.

The leader of Syria’s primary opposition group abroad, Hadi al-Bahra, announced on Sunday that Damascus is now “without Bashar al-Assad.” As Syrians celebrated this development, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali expressed his readiness to support the ongoing governance and collaborate with any leadership that the Syrian populace selects.

For years, the frontlines of Syria’s intricate civil war had been relatively quiet. However, Islamist factions previously linked to Al Qaeda have recently re-emerged, presenting a significant challenge to Assad, who had managed to endure years of intense conflict and international isolation with the backing of Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah from Lebanon. Yet, as these allies became preoccupied with other crises, Assad found himself increasingly vulnerable to his adversaries.

Just hours before entering Damascus, rebel forces declared their complete control over the crucial city of Homs after a mere day of combat, putting Assad’s 24-year regime in jeopardy. Following the army’s withdrawal from the central city, thousands of Homs residents took to the streets, celebrating with chants of “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad.” Rebels celebrated by firing into the air, while young people removed posters of the Syrian president, whose grip on territory has rapidly deteriorated in a tumultuous week of military setbacks.

The capture of Homs has granted the insurgents control over Syria’s strategic core and a vital highway junction, effectively isolating Damascus from the coastal region, which serves as the stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect and is home to Russian naval and air bases.

The capture of Homs serves as a significant emblem of the rebel movement’s resurgence in the 13-year-long conflict. Much of Homs was devastated by intense siege warfare between the rebels and government forces in previous years, which ultimately weakened the insurgents and led to their expulsion.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, described the recapture of Homs as a pivotal moment and urged combatants to spare “those who lay down their arms.” In a notable development, rebels liberated thousands of prisoners from the city’s jail, while security personnel fled rapidly, incinerating their documents in the process.

Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani announced early Sunday that efforts were underway to “fully liberate” the areas surrounding Damascus, with rebel forces setting their sights on the capital. In one neighborhood, a statue of Hafez al-Assad, the former president and father of the current leader, was toppled and destroyed.

Beyond the city limits, rebels advanced rapidly across the entire southwestern region within a span of 24 hours, establishing their control.

EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO ASSAD RULE

The swift developments have taken Arab capitals by surprise and heightened concerns about a potential resurgence of regional instability. A joint statement from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Russia characterized the crisis as a perilous situation and called for a political resolution. The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011 as a revolt against Assad’s regime, has drawn in major foreign powers, provided a breeding ground for jihadist groups to orchestrate global attacks, and resulted in millions of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the most powerful rebel faction, is the former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, which the United States and other nations classify as a terrorist organization. Many Syrians continue to express concerns about the potential for the group to enforce strict Islamist governance.

Golani has made efforts to reassure minority communities that their rights will be respected and has communicated to the international community his opposition to Islamist violence beyond Syria’s borders. In Aleppo, recently captured by the rebels, there have been no reports of retaliatory actions.

When asked on Saturday about his trust in Golani, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

THE ROLE OF ALLIES IN SUPPORTING ASSAD

Assad’s prolonged rule has depended on the support of allies to suppress the rebels. Russian airstrikes have targeted opposition positions, while Iran has deployed allied forces, including Hezbollah and Iraqi militias, to strengthen the Syrian military and assault insurgent strongholds.

However, since 2022, Russia has shifted its focus to the conflict in Ukraine, and Hezbollah has incurred significant losses in its ongoing struggle with Israel, which has greatly diminished both its and Iran’s capacity to support Assad. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has stated that the United States should refrain from involvement in the conflict and allow it to unfold naturally.