In a dramatic development that could mark a pivotal shift in Syria’s long-running civil war, the Syrian opposition forces have declared victory over President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, claiming control over the capital city of Damascus. This announcement comes after days of intensified fighting and advances by the opposition groups against government forces.
The military wing of the unified Syrian opposition confirmed that Assad had fled the presidential palace, with reports suggesting he may have sought refuge in Russia. Opposition fighters were seen entering Damascus early this morning, signaling the end of Assad’s 50-year reign of oppression over the city.
“The tyrannical era is over,” declared a spokesperson for the opposition. “Damascus, which has been under the yoke of the brutal Assad regime for decades, is finally free.”
Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating online depict scenes of chaos, with members of Assad’s elite presidential guard abandoning their posts and fleeing the streets of Damascus. The opposition also claimed that senior officials and loyalists had defected from the regime, leaving key government buildings and military headquarters.
International flights from Damascus airport were reportedly suspended, with all airport staff evacuated as the opposition tightened its grip on the capital. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a Syrian aircraft believed to be carrying Assad took off from Damascus airport before the opposition’s advance, initially heading towards the coastal Alawite stronghold before mysteriously changing course.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Assad’s exit from Syria came after his wife and children were flown to Russia last week, indicating that the family had been preparing for a potential exile. Meanwhile, the Israeli intelligence-linked Axios claimed that Assad had fled to a Russian military base in Syria late last night, possibly en route to Moscow.
In a official statement, the opposition announced that former Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali would lead an interim administration to oversee the transition of power, calling on civil servants and administrators to cooperate with the new authorities both domestically and internationally.
As the situation on the ground remains fluid, the world watches with bated breath to see how this historic regime change will unfold and what implications it may have for the future of Syria and the broader region.
