Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus to an undisclosed location as rebel forces, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, announced their entry into the capital. The move marks a dramatic shift in Syria’s 13-year conflict, with rebels proclaiming the “end of the era” of Assad’s rule.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali signaled a readiness for a transfer of power, according to a televised statement on Saturday. Meanwhile, chaos gripped the capital, with panicked residents scrambling for supplies and forming long lines at ATMs. Traffic jams clogged the streets as fear of imminent conflict spread.
BREAKING: Tearing down of posters featuring Qassem Soleimani and Hassan Nasrallah at Iran’s embassy in Damascus pic.twitter.com/zWjQePV1we
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) December 8, 2024
Airport Abandoned, Key Allies Withdraw
The situation escalated rapidly as the Syrian Army and security forces reportedly abandoned their positions at Damascus International Airport. Hezbollah, a key Assad ally, has also begun withdrawing its fighters, according to sources cited by AFP. Fighters were reportedly seen retreating toward Latakia in Syria and the Hermel region of Lebanon.
An Iraqi security official told AFP that hundreds of Syrian troops have fled into Iraq, with some estimates putting the figure as high as 2,000, including officers.
Rebels Seize Strategic Ground
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham claimed control of the strategic city of Homs earlier, though the Syrian defence ministry denied this, insisting the area was “safe and stable.” The rebel group later announced they had stormed the infamous Sednaya Prison, long associated with human rights abuses under Assad’s regime, freeing detainees and declaring the fall of the “prison of tyranny.”
Witnesses in a Damascus suburb reported seeing protesters toppling a statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father and predecessor, a symbolic act signalling the regime’s waning grip on power.
Years of War and a Fragile Regime
The apparent overthrow of Assad follows a brutal civil war that began in 2011 as a peaceful uprising and spiraled into a devastating conflict, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which evolved from the al-Nusra Front and was once aligned with al-Qaeda, has since consolidated power in northern Syria.
Global powers, including the U.S. and U.K., still regard the group as a terrorist organization despite its efforts to rebrand and soften its image in recent years.
Geopolitical Reactions
The latest developments come amid shifting alliances and external pressures. Hezbollah and Iran, Assad’s key supporters, have been weakened by conflicts involving Israel, while Russia’s focus remains divided due to its war in Ukraine.
Reactions from world leaders reflect deep divisions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the rebel advance, calling it “inadmissible” for a “terrorist group to seize Syrian territory.”
In contrast, US President-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the US should “not get involved” in the Syrian crisis.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government has supported armed groups in northern Syria, called for peace, saying, “Syria is tired of war, blood, and tears.”
Uncertain Path Forward
With Assad’s whereabouts unknown and his allies retreating, the future of Syria remains uncertain. The rebels, emboldened by a lack of international intervention and shifting regional dynamics, appear poised to take control of Damascus, signalling a potential new chapter in the war-torn nation’s history.
