The rebels are now in Damascus (8/12) while the country’s president is said to have fled.
President Assad reportedly boarded a plane that departed for an unknown destination, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. “Assad left Syria from Damascus International Airport before members of the armed forces and security services withdrew from it,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the non-governmental organization based in London but with a wide network of sources in Syria. .
Video from inside Damascus international airport after it was taken.
— Global Intel Watch (@WAffairsBlog)
However, according to the Syrian president’s office, Assad has not left Damascus. A source told CNN that the president could not be found anywhere in the city.
The rebels declared in the early hours that Damascus is now free from its shackles, effectively signaling the overthrow of the regime. Proclaiming that the “tyrant” Assad had fled, they called on those displaced abroad to return to “free Syria.”
Damascus
The Republican Guard leaves the Al-Maliki area in Damascus– Ghassan (@2022Way)
The head of the Syrian opposition abroad Hadi al-Bahra said that Damascus is now “without Bashar al-Assad”. “” he commented.
A Turkish journalist reported that “Assad rejected all Arab initiatives presented to him in the last two days to step down and insists on a long transition phase during which a constitution and elections will be drawn up under international supervision.”
NEW: Assad rejected all the Arab initiatives presented to him during the past two days to step down, and he insists on a long transitional phase in which a constitution and elections will be drawn up under international supervision.
— Special Intel sources to Sawt al Asima
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu)
HTS fighters seized Sednaya prison on the outskirts of the capital, freeing the prisoners. “We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of the release of our prisoners from their shackles and the announcement of the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” they said.
“The doors of Sednaya prison, known as a human slaughterhouse, have been opened to thousands of prisoners,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed.
The message from the rebel leader
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is dominated by al-Qaeda’s former arm in Syria, and other rebel groups launched attacks against the Syrian army last week, quickly capturing dozens of communities and strategic towns, gradually encircling the capital before they launch their final attack.
The head of the Islamist group, Ahmed al-Sara, better known as Abu Mohammad al-Jowlani, who is leading the rebel offensive that entered the Syrian capital, today called on his fighters not to approach public institutions in Damascus, which remain under the control of control of the former prime minister until there is a “formal transfer of power”.
“To all military forces in the city of Damascus, you are completely prohibited from approaching public institutions, which will remain under the control of the former prime minister until the official transfer of power,” according to a statement by al-Sara. “Shooting in the air is also prohibited,” he added in the statement released through the rebel coalition’s Telegram channel.
In a video message he said: “We are living the last moments of the liberation of the city of Homs (…) A historical event, which will distinguish the truth from the lie.”
Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Emir of Idlib, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, says that his men took over Homs
— Tyrannical Manager (@tyrannicalmgr)
The Syrian prime minister is willing to cooperate
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali said he was ready to work with any new “leadership” chosen by the people, clarifying that he would be in his offices at the seat of government this morning for any process of “transfer” of power.
“This country can be a normal country, building good relations with its neighbors and with the world (…) but this issue will be decided by whatever leadership the Syrian people choose and we are ready to cooperate and offer them every facility he said in a video posted on his Facebook account.
Damascus has fallen.
Syria has fallen.
Bashar al-Assad has fallen.
These scenes show the disappearance of the Syrian army and security forces from the streets, similar to what happened previously in Iraq.— khaled mahmoued (@khaledmahmoued1)
Taking Bashar al-Assad’s government and the international community by surprise, HTS and other rebel organizations launched a major offensive on November 27 that allowed them to take control of major cities in just a few days, first Aleppo (north) and then Hama and of Homs in central Syria.
The provinces to the east and south, mainly Deraa, the cradle of the 2011 “revolution”, fell to the rebels when local fighters took control of the field after regime forces withdrew.
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Video Scenes from Homs under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) control.— Patriot Independence (@Patriotind1776)
The US is watching what’s going on
US President Joe Biden and his team are monitoring the “extraordinary events in Syria” and are in contact with regional partners, the White House announced.
“President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and remain in constant contact with regional partners,” US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement on social media.
