Source: AP
In a dramatic and swift turn of events, the Syrian government has collapsed, marking the end of the Assad family's 50-year rule. President Bashar Assad reportedly fled the country early Sunday after an unexpected and rapid rebel offensive overran government-held territory and stormed Damascus in just 10 days. This stunning fall came as opposition forces, led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), advanced with little resistance.
State television confirmed Assad's overthrow with a video statement showing a group of men declaring the fall of his regime and the release of detainees from prisons. The statement urged citizens and opposition fighters to protect state institutions in a “free Syrian state.”
Hours before this announcement, Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Assad boarded a flight out of Damascus to an undisclosed location. Iran’s state media, citing Al Jazeera, also confirmed Assad's departure. However, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali remained in Damascus, expressing readiness to cooperate with the opposition and transition power to a new government.
As the news broke, celebratory crowds flooded the streets of Damascus, praying, chanting anti-Assad slogans, and firing gunshots into the air. Many expressed disbelief and relief after years of fear under Assad’s rule. Army checkpoints were abandoned, police stations left empty, and the Ministry of Defense headquarters looted. Footage showed soldiers discarding their uniforms and fleeing, signaling the regime’s collapse.
The fall of Damascus followed a series of rapid gains by the rebels, who seized major cities like Aleppo, Hama, and Homs in a lightning offensive starting on November 27. The capture of Homs, a critical intersection between the capital and Syria’s coastal provinces, was a decisive blow to Assad's forces. Government troops withdrew from large parts of the south, unable to halt the rebel momentum.
The situation has left Syria in chaos. Thousands of residents rushed to stock up on supplies or fled toward the Lebanese border, where crossings were abruptly closed. The United Nations began evacuating non-essential staff, while international leaders called for urgent talks to manage an orderly political transition.
Assad’s allies, preoccupied with their own conflicts — such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and Hezbollah's strained resources due to ongoing clashes with Israel — offered little support. This left his regime vulnerable to the final, swift collapse.
For now, Syria stands at a crossroads, with the regime gone, rebels in control, and the future uncertain. The international community is bracing for what comes next in a nation that has endured over a decade of brutal conflict.
Source: AP News
