Rebels Take Syria's Capital Damascus
- 8.12.2024, 8:39
Dictator Assad's rule is over.
Syrian rebels entered the capital Damascus today, December 8, where there was no sign of an army deploying. President Bashar al-Assad left Damascus on board a plane to an unknown destination.
This is reported by Reuters and CNN.
Rebels in Syria, after taking control of the important city of Homs, continued to move towards the capital and began entering Damascus on Sunday.
They also said that they were “celebrating the news of the release of our prisoners, the removal of their chains and the announcement of the end of the era of injustice in Sedna prison”.
Residents of the Syrian capital told Western media that gunfire was heard in the center of Damascus, but the cause was unknown.
According to eyewitnesses, thousands of people gathered in the main square of Damascus, waving their hands and chanting “Freedom”.
Rebels, after withdrawing government troops from key cities in Syria in just over a week and taking control of dozens of towns, said they were advancing on the capital, including Assad's residence.
At the same time, two high-ranking Syrian army officers told Reuters that dictator Bashar al-Assad had left Damascus. It is stated that Assad used a plane to do so, and flew out of the capital in an unknown direction on Sunday.
According to preliminary data, Assad could have been on board the Russian Il-76T aircraft. Meanwhile, according to the Flightradar service, the Il-76T disappeared from radars in the Syrian region on Sunday for unknown reasons. This could have happened near Al-Suwayri.
It is reported that the General Staff of the Syrian Arab Army (SAR) told servicemen about the fall of the Assad regime and gave the order to lay down their arms.
A Syrian officer told Reuters that the Command (SAR) told officers that “Bashar al-Assad's rule has ended after a lightning offensive by the rebels”.
Meanwhile, Syrian rebels have already declared the revolution a success. Opposition representatives added that they promise to make the country a democratic state, respect property rights and preserve the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria, as well as “hold the Assad regime accountable”.
Rebel forces in Syria also declared Damascus “free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad”. This was reported on the Telegram channel of the Military Operations Command (rebel forces).
Before this, the rebels said that in Damascus they began to take control of state media offices in order to “broadcast an announcement of victory over Assad”.