Syrian Rebels Advance into Damascus, Claim Assad Has Fled

“To the displaced around the globe, a free Syria awaits you,” read a triumphant statement released after significant developments in the Syrian conflict.

Syrian state television broadcasted a video message from a group of men declaring the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the release of all prisoners from state prisons, according to a report from the Associated Press. A spokesperson in the broadcast, attributed to the opposition group known as the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, urged fighters and citizens alike to safeguard the institutions of what they referred to as the “free Syrian state.”

Earlier reports indicated that Bashar al-Assad had fled the country to an undisclosed location, allegedly escaping an insurgent advance that had rapidly swept across Syria, culminating in the rebels’ entry into Damascus. The information was initially shared by the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor and further corroborated by various media outlets, including Politico.

On Saturday, opposition forces completed the encirclement of Damascus after executing a lightning-fast offensive, capturing several crucial cities. This culminated in the loss of Hama, a strategically significant city, from government control on Friday. According to France 24, the Syrian army confirmed the takeover of Hama by the opposition group Tahrir al-Sham, a splinter faction of al-Qaeda.

The rebel successes followed a series of crushing defeats for government forces, including the opposition’s capture of Aleppo—the country’s largest city—just weeks prior. This offensive compelled Syrian military units to retreat from key urban centers, leaving the regime with diminishing control over much of the country.

Adding symbolic weight to the rebellion, statues of Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad, and his brother, Maher al-Assad, were torn down in cities now under rebel control. These acts of defiance extended into the suburbs of Damascus, painting a vivid picture of a nation in transition.

Amid this ongoing transformation, a resounding call was made for displaced Syrians worldwide: a new and free Syria is embracing change, signaling hope for the millions who fled the years-long conflict.