Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly fled to Moscow on Sunday after rebel forces captured Damascus, bringing an end to the Assad family’s five-decade rule.
Russian media outlets Tass and RIA, citing an unnamed Kremlin source, stated that Assad and his family had been granted asylum in Russia.
Hours before his departure, rebel forces stormed the capital, overwhelming government forces.
Celebratory gunfire echoed through Damascus as jubilant Syrians filled the streets, chanting and waving revolutionary flags.
Crowds gathered in Umayyad Square, a symbolic site in the city, while others entered the presidential palace, looting abandoned properties.
Moscow has requested an emergency UN Security Council session to address the crisis, according to Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN.
Meanwhile, Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria reportedly received security guarantees from insurgent factions.
Scenes of celebration and uncertainty in Damascus
The rebel advance has raised significant concerns over Syria’s future.
Former al-Qaida commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, now known as Ahmad al-Sharaa, emerged as a key figure poised to lead the transitional period.
During a visit to the Umayyad Mosque, he described the regime’s fall as “a victory for the Islamic nation,” criticising Assad for turning Syria into “a farm for Iran’s greed.”
Rebels announced a curfew in Damascus, urging civilians to protect state institutions.
They also freed detainees from Saydnaya prison, a notorious detention facility where human rights groups have documented systematic torture and killings.
Videos showed rebels liberating dozens of shocked prisoners, including women and children.
“This happiness will not be complete until I find my son,” said Bassam Masr, who has been searching for his missing relative. “He has been detained for 13 years.”
Despite the euphoria, fears of revenge attacks persist. Judge Khitam Haddad, guarding the Justice Ministry, urged restraint, while rebel commander Anas Salkhadi assured minorities, including Alawites and Christians, that their rights would be protected.
A fractured country with competing factions
The rebels, primarily from the Sunni majority, now face the formidable challenge of uniting a nation fractured by 14 years of civil war.
Armed factions continue to control various regions, including Turkey-backed forces in the north, US-allied Kurdish groups, and remnants of the Islamic State.
Syrian state television broadcasted the regime’s overthrow, with rebels urging citizens to safeguard national unity.
Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali announced his willingness to cooperate with a transitional government. A video showed him being escorted from his office by armed men.
Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, Assad’s primary supporters, abandoned him as rebel advances rapidly dismantled the regime’s strongholds in Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.
Iran, grappling with its conflicts with Israel, called for a Syrian-led transition, while its embassy in Damascus was ransacked.
International reactions and regional implications
The fall of Assad’s regime has reshaped regional dynamics. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the occupation of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, citing security concerns as Syrian forces retreated.
The Arab League condemned Israel’s actions as opportunistic.
The Gulf state of Qatar hosted an emergency meeting with foreign ministers from eight nations, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Russia.
They called for inclusive dialogue involving all Syrian factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the largest rebel group, to ensure stability.
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen echoed these sentiments, urging a peaceful political transition to prevent further chaos.
“There is no military solution to the ongoing upsurge of violence in #Syria,” @UNEnvoySyria said to the UN Security Council.
He urged all parties to find a political path out of the crisis, while abiding by int’l humanitarian law, protecting civilians.https://t.co/SEBWLyDiKt pic.twitter.com/ka4BFaoVpG
— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) December 5, 2024
Path forward amid challenges
Despite scenes of jubilation, Syria’s future remains uncertain.
“Jolani has made history and sparked hope among millions of Syrians,” said Dareen Khalifa of the International Crisis Group.
“But he and the rebels now face a formidable challenge ahead. One can only hope they continue to rise to the occasion.”
Jolani has made history and sparked hope among millions of Syrians. But he and the rebels now face a formidable challenge ahead. One can only hope they continue to rise to the occasion.
— Dareen Khalifa (@dkhalifa) December 8, 2024
With Damascus liberated and the Assad era over, the world watches as Syrians navigate a difficult path toward reconciliation and rebuilding.
