Assad Regime Falls as Syrian Rebels Seize Damascus in Stunning Offensive

The Assad family’s decadeslong control over Syria ended abruptly on Sunday as rebel forces captured Damascus following a swift and decisive offensive across the country.  

Hassan Abdul-Ghani, a senior commander of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), declared victory for the rebels after their lightning-fast advance, which culminated in the overnight seizure of the capital. “We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” Abdul-Ghani announced on WhatsApp. “To the displaced people around the world, Free Syria awaits you.”  

Social media footage, verified by NBC News, showed jubilant Syrians celebrating in Damascus, honking car horns, waving flags, and firing into the air. Others took selfies atop military tanks. Across Syria, statues of Hafez al-Assad, the father of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, were toppled, including in the Assad stronghold of Latakia.  

Bashar al-Assad fled Syria and relinquished his presidency. The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed his departure, stating, “As a result of negotiations between Bashar Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully.” Russian media reported that Assad had sought asylum in Moscow, a move corroborated by U.S. officials.  

Prime Minister Ghazi al-Jalali issued a statement from Damascus, pledging not to flee and to ensure the functioning of public institutions during the transition. “We are ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people,” he said.  

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HTS also announced the liberation of prisoners from Sednaya Prison, where thousands had been detained by the Assad regime. “We announce to the Syrian people the news of the liberation of our captives and the breaking of their chains, proclaiming the end of the era of oppression in Sednaya Prison,” the group said.  

In the wake of the rebels’ victory, Damascus International Airport was evacuated, with all flights suspended, according to state radio Sham FM. It remains unclear who is currently in charge of the state media outlet.  

U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the fall of the Assad regime, describing it as a “moment of historic opportunity” for Syria to build a democratic future. However, he warned of potential risks and uncertainty during the transition. Biden committed to working with all Syrian groups and supporting United Nations-led efforts to establish a new government.  

President-elect Donald Trump, however, voiced opposition to U.S. involvement in Syria. On Truth Social, he posted, “This is not our fight. Let it play out.”  

The Israel Defense Forces announced deployments along the Syrian border to safeguard the Golan Heights, while maintaining neutrality in Syria’s internal affairs.  

The fall of Damascus follows a string of rapid rebel victories. HTS forces captured Aleppo, Hama, and Daraa in under two weeks, leaving Assad’s government unable to resist the final push to the capital. The militant group’s use of high-tech weaponry and indigenous missile production has significantly enhanced its combat capabilities, according to experts.  

HTS, which evolved from the Al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, remains a U.S.- and U.N.-designated terrorist organization. The group’s recent battlefield success signals the culmination of years of strategic preparation and weaponization, analysts suggest.  

The collapse of Assad’s rule after nearly 14 years of civil war marks a turning point in Syria’s history. However, questions loom over the nation’s future, as HTS and other factions jostle for control in a fractured and war-ravaged landscape.