Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, reportedly leaves Damascus as rebels enter the capital
The 24-year regime has come to an end.
The president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, has reportedly left the Syrian capital, Damascus, as rebels enter the city.
Assad has been in power since 2000 following the death of his father, the late president Hafez al-Assad.
According to Reuters, two senior army officials said that Assad flew out of Damascus to an unknown destination on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The rebels entered the capital and were met with no sign of the army after announcing they gained complete control over the city of Homs.
Reuters added that a Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport at around the time the rebels reportedly entered the capital.
Flightradar tracked the aircraft as it initially flew towards Syria's coast before making a U-turn. It flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map.
Two residents of Damascus told Reuters that there were intense sounds of shooting, though the source of the shooting was not clear.
A Syrian officer informed the news outlet that Assad's rule has ended as rebels said Damascus was "now free of Assad".
Reuters explained that rebels' taking over Homs gave them control over Syria's strategic heartland and a key highway crossroads.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) commander Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the main rebel leader, said the fall of Homs was "a historic moment" and urged fighters not to harm "those who drop their arms".
Syrian rebels advanced toward Damascus as front lines collapsed across the country, posing an existential threat to President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule https://t.co/QeRoYnY35N pic.twitter.com/Cyvcw240cY
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 8, 2024
A conflict has ravaged Syria for 13 years after an uprising against Assad in 2011 turned into a full-scale civil war.
According to the BBC, more than 500,000 people have been killed, and 12 million have been forced to leave their homes.
Top photos via Canva
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