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In a moment that seemed to freeze time, Syrian rebels declared on Sunday that they had successfully overthrown Bashar al-Assad, bringing an end to his unyielding 24-year reign. The news, broadcast live on state television, came after an audacious and rapid military offensive—one so swift and unexpected that it left the world grappling to comprehend the full scope of the momentous shift in Syria’s power structure.
Syria’s army command officially informed its officers on Sunday that the Assad regime had reached its end, according to an insider familiar with the directive. The announcement, both abrupt and monumental, hints at the unraveling of a government that had stood unchallenged for over two decades.
Contrary to reports of the regime’s collapse, the Syrian army announced on Sunday that it was continuing operations against “terrorist groups” in the towns of Hama, Homs, and the Deraa countryside. Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad, who spent decades suppressing dissent with an iron grip, reportedly fled Damascus for an undisclosed location earlier that day. Two senior army officers, speaking to Reuters, confirmed his departure as rebels claimed they had entered the capital, encountering no significant military resistance.
“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,” the rebels said, referring to a large military prison on the outskirts of Damascus where the Syrian government detained thousands.
The streets of Damascus became a sea of celebration as thousands of Syrians, on foot and in cars, flooded the main square. Witnesses described an overwhelming surge of chants for “Freedom,” echoing a new era after 50 years of Assad family rule. The fall of the regime marks a transformative moment for Syria and the broader Middle East, stripping Russia and Iran of a strategic foothold and altering the region’s balance of power.
The rapid escalation of events has left Arab capitals reeling, stoking concerns of a fresh surge of regional instability. Adding to the tension, data from Flightradar showed a Syrian Air plane departing Damascus airport around the same time rebel forces were reported to have seized the capital. The development has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Syria and the broader Middle East.
Read also: Thousands Flee As Syrian Insurgents Reach Key City Of Homs
The aircraft initially veered toward Syria’s coastal heartland, a bastion of Assad’s Alawite sect, before abruptly reversing course. For a brief, tense moment, it flew in the opposite direction before vanishing entirely from radar screens. Speculation ran high as to who might have been aboard, but no immediate confirmation was available.
The sudden disappearance of an aircraft has ignited widespread speculation, with two Syrian sources indicating a strong possibility that President Bashar al-Assad may have been killed in the crash. The plane’s abrupt U-turn, captured on Flightradar, has left many questioning the circumstances behind the incident.
“It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down…,” said one Syrian source without elaborating.
Hadi al-Bahra, a prominent figure in Syria’s opposition abroad, declared that Damascus was “without Bashar al-Assad,” sending waves of celebration across the nation. Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali assured Syrians of his commitment to stability, pledging to work with any government that emerges from the will of the people.
U.S. President Joe Biden and his team were monitoring the “extraordinary events in Syria” and were in touch with regional partners, the White House said.
Syria’s long-standing civil war had grown dormant over the years, but the peace was shattered when Islamists once affiliated with Al Qaeda reignited the conflict. Their sudden rise posed a new, significant threat to Bashar al-Assad, who had endured years of relentless warfare and global isolation, relying on crucial support from Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah. Now, this fresh challenge looms larger than ever before.
