Syrian rebels declare Damascus “free” and say Assad has fled

Rebel forces in Syria have declared Damascus “free”, claiming that Bashar al-Assad has fled the capital, according to a statement published this Sunday (8).

“We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” the Military Operations Command wrote in a Telegram post.

“For displaced people around the world, a free Syria awaits,” the statement added.

The rebels previously claimed to have entered the capital and taken control of the notorious Saydnaya Military Prison north of Damascus.