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The Assad family’s decades-long grip on Syria ended Sunday as rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus after a swift and decisive military offensive. The stunning advance, which unfolded over days, culminated with President Bashar al-Assad fleeing the country.
Hassan Abdul-Ghani, a senior commander of HTS, announced the victory in a message on WhatsApp: “We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad. To the displaced people around the world, Free Syria awaits you.”
Verified videos circulating online showed jubilant crowds in Damascus celebrating the fall of the regime. People honked car horns, waved flags, and toppled statues of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father and predecessor, in cities across Syria, including the regime stronghold of Latakia.
Russia, a key Assad ally, confirmed his departure in a statement, noting he had relinquished the presidency and left the country following negotiations. “He decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry. Assad’s location remains unknown.
HTS Sweeps Across Syria
The capture of Damascus comes after HTS forces launched a lightning campaign that saw them seize major cities, including Aleppo, Homs, and Hama, in less than two weeks. The rapid advance overwhelmed government defenses and signaled the collapse of outside support from Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, which had long propped up Assad’s regime.
The HTS offensive also freed prisoners held in Sednaya, a military facility notorious for detaining political dissidents. In a statement, the group proclaimed the liberation of captives as “the end of oppression in Sednaya Prison.”
International Reactions
The international community is closely watching the aftermath. President Joe Biden is monitoring the situation, while President-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. should “have nothing to do with” Syria’s turmoil.
Israel, concerned about instability on its northern border, has deployed forces to the Golan Heights to safeguard its territory. “We emphasize that the IDF is not interfering with the internal events in Syria,” the Israeli Defense Forces stated on X.
HTS, originally formed from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and United Nations. Despite this, its battlefield success underscores its evolution into a formidable force, aided by advanced weaponry and drones.
The fall of Assad’s regime marks a pivotal moment in Syria’s 14-year civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. As celebrations erupt in Damascus, the future of Syria remains uncertain.
