Syria’s Assad flees Damascus as opposition forces take control of capital

Rebels secure a victory after a 10-day offensive, ending the Assad family's five-decades-long rule in Syria.

Dec 8, 2024 - 16:00

Syria’s Assad flees Damascus as opposition forces take control of capital

syria's assad flees damascus opposition forces take control capital syrian announcing state tv have reclaimed overthrown bashar al-assad rebels announce fall assad's russian regime government collapsed early 8 stunning end

The Syrian government collapsed early on 8 December in a stunning end to the Assad family’s 50-year rule, as opposition forces entered Damascus following a lightning offensive that captured major cities across the country in just ten days, according to AP, Aljazeera, and Syrian opposition sources.

This marks a major setback for Russia, whose military intervention over the past 10 years sustained Bashar al-Assad’s regime in exchange for access to the Tartus port and Khmeimim airbase for operations in the Middle East and Africa. Assad’s fall marks a seismic moment for the Middle East, dealing a massive blow not only to Russia, but also Iran, which has also been using Syria for operations in the region.

Syrian state television aired a statement by opposition forces announcing President Bashar al-Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners of his regime freed.

“The city of Damascus has been liberated,” rebels declared in their first broadcast on state TV, according to Aljazeera, adding: “The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has been toppled. All the prisoners have been released from the prison of Damascus. We wish all our fighters and citizens to preserve and maintain the property of the state of Syria. Long live Syria.”

Two senior army officers told Reuters that Assad flew out of Damascus early on Sunday, 6 December, for an unknown destination. Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed to AP that Assad took a flight from Damascus. Iranian state television also reported Assad had left the capital, citing Qatar’s Al Jazeera network.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali told Saudi network Al-Arabiyya that he had lost contact with Assad and the defense minister Saturday night, AP says. Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and transfer power to a transitional government.

The rebels’ dramatic advance from the north began on 27 November, when opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. They subsequently seized Hama and Homs, two other major cities further south, cutting off Damascus from Assad’s coastal strongholds, where the Russian naval and air force bases are located.

“What we are seeing now is the outcome of the past few years of training and professionalization of the HTS troops,” Crisis Group senior analyst Jerome Drevon told The Washington Post, noting Türkiye had provided material aid to the rebels.

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, Reuters reports.

Syrian rebels have entered Assad’s massive presidential palace complex in Damascus. pic.twitter.com/xxNRUn80tw— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) December 8, 2024

Mazloum Abdi, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), describes Syria’s current events as a “historic moment” marking the fall of an authoritarian regime.