Syrian rebels topple al-Assad govt, end 13 years of civil war & decades of family rule

DAMASCUS: In a transformative event that could reshape the Middle East, Syrian rebels announced the fall of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday after taking control of Damascus, marking the end of his family's rule that spanned over five decades.

The ousting comes after more than 13 years of civil war, a conflict that devastated the nation, killed hundreds of thousands, and displaced millions.

Assad reportedly fled the country, with Russian agencies Tass and RIA citing an unnamed Kremlin source claiming he and his family were granted asylum in Moscow, his long-time ally and protector.

The rebel advance into Damascus, met with minimal resistance, triggered scenes of jubilation in the capital. Thousands of Syrians thronged the city's main square, waving flags and chanting "Freedom," as decades of authoritarian rule crumbled.

In an extraordinary spectacle, some were seen walking freely through the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, with reports of people carrying away furniture.

Leading rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), declared that the regime's fall signaled a new era.

"The future is ours," he stated in a televised address aired on Syrian state TV, which is now under rebel control.

Golani highlighted the rebels' commitment to forging a stable and inclusive political future for the war-torn nation.

However, the swift pace of events sent shockwaves across the region, igniting fears of further instability in an already volatile Middle East.

The developments unfolded amidst heightened tensions following the October 2023 Gaza war and an ongoing Israeli campaign against Iranian influence in Syria and Lebanon.

World leaders reacted swiftly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed Assad's downfall to "Israel's decisive blows" against Iran and Hezbollah.

French President Emmanuel Macron called it "the fall of a barbaric state" and praised the Syrian people's resilience.

Iran, a key ally of Assad throughout the war, adopted a cautious tone.

Its foreign ministry emphasized that Syria's future must be determined by its people without foreign interference.