Bashar al-Assad flees as Damascus falls to opposition forces

In a historic turn of events, President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the Syrian capital, Damascus, following its dramatic takeover by opposition fighters.

The fall of Damascus marks the end of over 50 years of Assad family rule, a seismic political shift that is reshaping the Middle East.

On Sunday, opposition forces announced the “liberation” of Damascus and other key cities.

In a televised statement, a group of fighters proclaimed, “The tyrant Assad has been toppled,” and confirmed the release of prisoners from a major facility in the capital.

The opposition urged Syrians to maintain state property and avoid acts of revenge.

Hadi al-Bahra, head of the Syrian National Coalition, hailed the fall of the Assad regime, declaring Damascus “free of al-Assad” and congratulating the Syrian people on the dawn of a new era.

Fighters entering the city invited exiled Syrians to return, pledging a future of peace and reconstruction.

Exclusive footage from Al Jazeera showed opposition fighters storming the presidential palace and raising their flag.

Another video released by the opposition revealed their control over the strategic Mezzeh Air Base, a hub for government airstrikes against rebel territories.

The swift advance of opposition forces, including the capture of the Mezzeh Air Base and Homs, severed crucial connections between Damascus and Assad’s coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartus.

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This decisive strategy left government forces overwhelmed and disorganized.

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In Damascus, residents filled the streets, chanting “Freedom! Freedom!” and tearing down portraits of Bashar al-Assad. Similar celebrations erupted in Latakia and Aleppo, where a statue of Hafez al-Assad was toppled.

Videos online showed emotional reunions and widespread jubilation as Syrians embraced the hope of a future without Assad’s oppressive rule.

Omar Horanieh, a Damascus resident, described hearing blasts and gunfire before the opposition entered the city. “Once they arrived, everyone was shouting, ‘God is the greatest,’” he said.

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, still in Damascus, expressed his willingness to cooperate with the opposition to ensure the continued functioning of public institutions.

Meanwhile, Abu Mohamed al-Julani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, ordered fighters to refrain from attacking public services.

Despite the euphoria, uncertainty looms over Syria’s future. Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh called the fall of the Assad regime “seismic,” emphasizing its profound regional implications.

Zeina Khodr, reporting from the Lebanese border, noted that many Syrians are now focused on returning to their homes and reuniting with their families.

The swift collapse of the Assad regime underscores the effectiveness of the opposition’s military strategy and the eroded support for Assad among his own forces.

As Syria transitions into a post-Assad era, rebuilding the nation and establishing political stability remain daunting challenges.

For now, Syrians across the nation are celebrating the end of an era marked by decades of authoritarian rule, with hopes for a brighter and freer future.