Sun Dec 08 04:50:34 UTC 2024: ## Assad Flees Damascus as Rebels Seize Capital, Ending 13-Year War
**Damascus, Syria –** In a stunning turn of events, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled Damascus as rebel forces, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, have entered the capital city. The move marks the dramatic end of a 13-year civil war that devastated the nation.
The Syrian Prime Minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, announced the government’s readiness for a handover of power, signaling the regime’s collapse. HTS declared the “end of the era of tyranny” after breaching the notorious Sednaya prison, a notorious symbol of Assad regime abuses.
Earlier reports indicated that Syrian Army and security forces abandoned Damascus International Airport, and a key Assad ally, Hezbollah, withdrew its fighters from positions around the capital. While the Syrian defense ministry denied earlier rebel claims of capturing the strategic city of Homs, Hezbollah confirmed the withdrawal of its forces from the Homs area, with some fighters relocating to Latakia and others to Lebanon.
Panic gripped Damascus as residents reported massive traffic jams, frantic supply runs, and long lines at ATMs. Witnesses in a Damascus suburb reported the toppling of a statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father. Adding to the chaos, reports indicate that hundreds, possibly thousands, of Syrian soldiers have fled to Iraq.
The HTS group, which emerged from al-Nusra Front and has a complex history with al-Qaeda, consolidated its power in Idlib and Aleppo before launching this decisive offensive. The rebels capitalized on the distraction of Assad’s allies – Hezbollah and Iran embroiled in other conflicts, and Russia bogged down in its war in Ukraine – leaving Assad vulnerable.
International reaction is swift and divided. US President-elect Donald Trump urged against US intervention, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the potential seizure of Syrian territory by a terrorist group. Turkey’s President Erdogan expressed hope for an end to the bloodshed. The situation remains fluid, and the immediate future of Syria remains uncertain.
First Piper 