Syrian rebels declare Damascus ‘free’ as Assad reportedly flees

Syrian rebel forces announced the liberation of Damascus on 8 December 2024, declaring the capital free from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Hours after the rebels captured the strategic city of Homs following intense fighting, Assad reportedly fled Damascus on a plane to an undisclosed destination, according to two senior Syrian army officers speaking to Reuters and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The rebel coalition, which includes Islamist and moderate factions, made rapid advances in the days leading up to the Damascus offensive.

Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesperson for the coalition, stated, “We were able to liberate four Syrian cities within 24 hours: Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda, and Homs.” The capture of the Saydnaya Military Prison north of Damascus further weakened the government’s hold.

Rebel leaders claimed their forces began entering Damascus late on 7 December, sparking clashes with loyalist units in several neighbourhoods.

In the Barzeh district, a resident confirmed to CNN that fighting was ongoing. The rebels also announced plans to seize control of state media offices to broadcast their victory declaration.

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, in a pre-recorded address, expressed readiness to support a smooth transition of power.

“We are ready to cooperate with any leadership the people choose, offering all possible support to ensure a smooth and systematic transition,” he said. He called on citizens to safeguard public property, emphasising its significance as a shared national asset.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), issued a directive to rebel forces forbidding damage to state institutions.

Public institutions will remain under the supervision of the former Prime Minister until they are officially handed over,” he wrote in a statement. Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, recently adopted his birth name in a rebranding effort to present a new vision for Syria.

The rebel coalition, despite internal ideological differences, is united in its opposition to Assad.

Prominent groups such as HTS, which emerged from Jabhat al-Nusra, play a leading role. Although HTS has distanced itself from al-Qaeda and ISIS, it remains designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States and other Western countries.

Turkey-backed factions within the coalition have also been active in northern Syria, claiming new territories, including the city of Tal Rifaat, from Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF, primarily composed of Kurdish fighters, faces hostility from both Assad’s regime and Turkey, which views them as a terrorist group.

The coalition’s advance has brought together fighters from diverse backgrounds, including Syria’s Druze minority, who have reportedly joined battles in Suwayda and other southern cities.

Local activist groups reported that Druze fighters have been instrumental in the recent rebel successes in Daraa and Suwayda.

The rapid fall of key cities and Assad’s reported departure mark a turning point in Syria’s long and complex civil war. However, the future of the country remains uncertain, with concerns over governance, security, and the return of millions of displaced citizens.