Rebels announce the fall of Assad's rule in Syria

• The rebels announced their capture of Damascus following a rapid offensive.
• Residents in Damascus were seen celebrating and cheering in the streets.

Islamist-led rebels announced the capture of Damascus in a swift offensive on Sunday, proclaiming the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule and five decades of Baath party dominance in Syria. Rebel factions celebrated the departure of Assad, referring to him as a "tyrant," and declared the city of Damascus "free." Residents were seen cheering in some parts of the capital, while others described a state of panic as people scrambled for supplies and queued at ATMs. Assad reportedly fled the country via Damascus International Airport before army security forces withdrew from the facility, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. AFP, however, could not independently verify these reports.

The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which launched a campaign less than two weeks earlier to challenge decades of Assad family rule, declared the end of "oppression" under Baath rule and the start of "a new era for Syria." HTS fighters reportedly broke into the infamous Sednaya Prison near Damascus, known for the regime's darkest abuses, and freed thousands of detainees. The rapid developments followed HTS’s capture of Homs, a strategic city north of Damascus, although the defense ministry denied this, claiming the city remained "safe and stable."

In a significant blow to Assad's government, Hezbollah, a key ally, vacated its positions around Damascus and Homs, with many fighters relocating to Latakia and the Lebanese region of Hermel. Meanwhile, government forces lost control of southern Daraa province, the cradle of the 2011 uprising, and reportedly withdrew from Quneitra near the Golan Heights. Local fighters in Sweida and Daraa took control of public facilities and institutions following the army's retreat. Iraqi sources reported that around 2,000 Syrian soldiers, including officers, fled into Iraq through the Al-Qaim border crossing.

The ongoing rebel offensive has resulted in at least 826 deaths, including 111 civilians, and displaced 370,000 people, according to the United Nations. The international response has been mixed, with UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen calling for urgent political talks and Russia opposing the control of Syrian territory by "terrorist groups." Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the toll of "war, blood, and tears" on Syria, while U.S. President-elect Donald Trump expressed his intention to keep the U.S. uninvolved in the conflict.

As the rebels consolidate their hold on key territories, Iran, Russia, and Turkey have emphasized the need for political dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition groups. Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali also expressed his willingness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people, signaling the potential for a significant political transition in the country.