Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the capital, Damascus, amid escalating rebel advances, marking a critical moment in the country’s long-standing civil war. Reports indicate that Assad’s whereabouts are currently unknown, as opposition forces, including the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, declared their entrance into the capital. In a statement, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali confirmed the government’s readiness to hand over power as rebels herald the “end of the era” of Assad’s rule.
According to the mediareports, a war monitor reported that Syrian Army units and security forces had abandoned Damascus International Airport, while a Hezbollah source confirmed that fighters loyal to Assad had withdrawn from positions surrounding the capital.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra and once affiliated with al-Qaeda, announced its forces had entered Damascus. The group further proclaimed the “end of the era of tyranny” after breaking into the infamous Sednaya prison, known for its association with severe human rights abuses by the regime. The rebel group had earlier claimed to have captured the strategic city of Homs, although the Syrian defense ministry denied this, insisting that the city remained “safe and stable.”
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Reports also reveal that Hezbollah, a key ally of Assad, has ordered its fighters to pull back from key positions in Syria. A Hezbollah source told AFP that fighters were withdrawn from Homs and redeployed to areas in Latakia, Syria, and Hermel, Lebanon.
Panic spread through Damascus as residents scrambled to secure supplies, withdraw money, and navigate street congestion. One woman, identified as Rania, described a sudden shift in mood: “The situation was not like this when I left my house this morning… suddenly everyone was scared.” In a symbolic act of defiance, protesters in a Damascus suburb toppled a statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s late father and former leader of Syria.
Iraqi security sources also reported that hundreds of Syrian soldiers had fled to Iraq, including about 2,000 troops and officers, after abandoning their posts on the frontlines.
This momentous development follows a 13-year uprising against the Assad regime, which began as peaceful protests in 2011 before spiraling into a brutal civil war. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which controls parts of northwest Syria, has been a significant player in the opposition’s resurgence. While the group initially pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, it severed ties in 2016 and has since sought to rebrand itself.
The rebellion’s momentum has been fueled by the weakening of Assad’s allies. Hezbollah and Iran, both long-time supporters of the regime, are distracted by their own regional conflicts, while Russia faces ongoing military challenges in Ukraine. As a result, Assad has been left increasingly vulnerable.
International responses have varied. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump expressed his belief that the U.S. should refrain from intervention, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the possibility of “terrorist” groups taking control of Syrian territory. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed sentiments of war-weariness, noting that Syria is “tired of war, blood and tears.”
As the situation in Damascus remains fluid, the future of Bashar al-Assad’s regime hangs in the balance, with rebels pushing closer to achieving a long-sought victory.
