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Syria's army command notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad's rule has ended following a lightning rebel offensive. Assad flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination, two senior army officers told Reuters, as opposition forces entered the capital.

A Syrian Airplane took off from Damascus airport around the time rebels reported taking the capital, according to Flightradar data. The aircraft initially flew toward Syria's coastal region, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, before making an abrupt U-turn and disappearing from tracking systems.

Thousands in cars and on foot congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting "Freedom," witnesses told reporters. The head of Syria's main opposition group abroad, Hadi al-Bahra, declared that Damascus is now "without Bashar al-Assad." The government evacuated the Damascus airport and halted all flights, according to pro-government radio station Sham FM.

The rebels advanced into Damascus after capturing Homs, Syria's third-largest city. Large celebrations erupted in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli after rebels announced the "total liberation" of Homs, according to Reuters Iraq bureau chief Timour Azhari.

In Homs, thousands of residents poured into streets after the army withdrew, chanting "Assad is gone, Homs is free" and "Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad." Youths tore down posters of the Syrian president as rebels fired celebratory shots. Security forces left in haste after burning their documents, Reuters reported.

The fall of Homs gave insurgents control over Syria's strategic heartland and key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from Assad's coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartus, home to Russian military bases. "We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison," rebels said after taking the notorious detention facility.

For the first time in Syria's civil war, the Associated Press reports the government controls only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances mark the largest territorial gains by opposition factions led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which began its shock offensive on November 27.

President-elect Donald Trump addressed the crisis through his Truth Social platform: "Opposition fighters in Syria, in an unprecedented move, have totally taken over numerous cities, in a highly coordinated offensive, and are now on the outskirts of Damascus, obviously preparing to make a very big move toward taking out Assad."

He argued Russia's involvement in Ukraine, which he claimed cost them over 600,000 soldiers, left them "incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria." Trump concluded: "THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT."

https://www.newsweek.com/syrian-rebels- ... at-1997268

Sunday update of Syria situation:

Syria's army command notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad's rule has ended following a lightning rebel offensive. Assad flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination, two senior army officers told Reuters, as opposition forces entered the capital.

A Syrian Airplane took off from Damascus airport around the time rebels reported taking the capital, according to Flightradar data. The aircraft initially flew toward Syria's coastal region, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, before making an abrupt U-turn and disappearing from tracking systems.

Thousands in cars and on foot congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting "Freedom," witnesses told reporters. The head of Syria's main opposition group abroad, Hadi al-Bahra, declared that Damascus is now "without Bashar al-Assad." The government evacuated the Damascus airport and halted all flights, according to pro-government radio station Sham FM.

The rebels advanced into Damascus after capturing Homs, Syria's third-largest city. Large celebrations erupted in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli after rebels announced the "total liberation" of Homs, according to Reuters Iraq bureau chief Timour Azhari.

In Homs, thousands of residents poured into streets after the army withdrew, chanting "Assad is gone, Homs is free" and "Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad." Youths tore down posters of the Syrian president as rebels fired celebratory shots. Security forces left in haste after burning their documents, Reuters reported.

The fall of Homs gave insurgents control over Syria's strategic heartland and key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from Assad's coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartus, home to Russian military bases. "We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison," rebels said after taking the notorious detention facility.

For the first time in Syria's civil war, the Associated Press reports the government controls only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances mark the largest territorial gains by opposition factions led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which began its shock offensive on November 27.

President-elect Donald Trump addressed the crisis through his Truth Social platform: "Opposition fighters in Syria, in an unprecedented move, have totally taken over numerous cities, in a highly coordinated offensive, and are now on the outskirts of Damascus, obviously preparing to make a very big move toward taking out Assad."

He argued Russia's involvement in Ukraine, which he claimed cost them over 600,000 soldiers, left them "incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria." Trump concluded: "THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT."

HTS commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani called the capture of Homs "a historic moment" and urged fighters not to harm "those who drop their arms." The group, which has origins in al-Qaida, is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and United Nations. In Aleppo, captured a week ago, there have not been reports of reprisals.

The pace of events has stunned Arab capitals and raised fears of regional instability. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Russia issued a joint statement calling the crisis a dangerous development and urging a political solution. Syria's civil war, which erupted in 2011, has drawn in major powers and sent millions of refugees into neighboring states.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his Iranian and Turkish counterparts would call for "dialogue between the government and legitimate opposition." When asked whether he believed Golani's promises, Lavrov replied, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Syria
Qatar's top diplomat criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of recent lulls in fighting, stating "Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people."

White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said on X, "President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners."

An Iraqi official previously told Newsweek the country would not send troops into Syria, saying "Iraq is working hard to find a balanced political solution to the recent repercussions."

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

Update, 12/07/24 at 11:08 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information throughout and headline change.