The Turkish Anadolu Agency announced that its state television Syria broadcast the news that his regime Bashar al-Assad fell, while all the prisoners are released from the prisons.
Earlier, 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. . He did not provide any information on the fate of Bashar al-Assad.
For his part, the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is leading the rebel offensive that infiltrated the Syrian capital, called on his fighters not to approach public institutions in Damascus, which remain under his control. former prime minister until there is a “formal transfer” of power.
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.
The overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and the collapse of the 61-year-old Ba’ath regime in Syria were celebrated with takbirs during the morning prayer at a mosque in the capital, Damascus ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/QGwmobOvEc
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 8, 2024
Rebel organizations that entered Damascus announced the “flight” of “tyrant” Bashar al-Assad, called on Syrians in exile abroad to return to a “free Syria” and declared “Damascus free from tyranny” ».
“After 50 years of oppression under the rule of the (party) Baath and 13 years of crimes, tyranny and (forced) displacements, (…) we announce today the end of this dark period and the beginning of a new era for Syria,” messages say which were made public by the rebel coalition via Telegram.
He left Syria by plane in an unknown direction
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that President Assad, in power for 24 years, “left Syria through Damascus airport before members of the armed forces and security forces left.”
The extremist Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which leads a rebel alliance in Syria, announced that its forces had entered Damascus.
Soldiers and members of the security forces left the airport of the Syrian capital, as it became known from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the non-governmental organization based in London but with a wide network of sources in Syria, said government forces had been ordered to withdraw from Damascus international airport.
“Our forces have begun to enter Damascus,” the Islamist organization Hayat al-Tahrir announced via Telegram at dawn. At the same time, it said that its fighters had taken over 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,” he adds.
“The doors of Sednaya prison, known as a ‘human slaughterhouse’, have been opened to thousands of prisoners,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed.
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.
At the same time, videos on social media show jihadists marching in Damascus.
☪️ As the 61-year-old Ba’ath regime in Syria collapses, people celebrate with takbirs and victory prayers echoing across Damascus ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/5Dw550qxv5
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 8, 2024
In the city of Sahnaya, located in the countryside of Damascus, Syrian #Christians are celebrating the fall of Bashar al-Assad. They are chanting, {One, one, one — the Syrian people are one.} pic.twitter.com/bAC5RhUqU4
— Greco-Levantines World Wide (@GrecoLevantines) December 8, 2024
Celebrations, horns and cheers can be heard throughout Damascus.