Rebel forces have entered the Syrian capital Damascus and dictator Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the country.
At the same time, the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has declared victory.
– This is a historic night for the whole world, not least for the countries that had Syria as their bloody game plan. The future is uncertain and can be both bright and dark for Syria, but few will mourn the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, says TV4 Nyheternas Middle East correspondent Terese Cristiansson.
When the jihadist rebels entered Damascus, Assad is said to have left the country in an airplane and gone to a currently unknown location. The Syrian regime’s forces are said to have also abandoned the city’s international airport and the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) declared victory. In a statement they stated that the Syrian regime had fallen.
Prime Minister ready to hand over power
During the night, shooting was heard in the capital Damascus, according to the AFP news agency. Pictures from the city during the morning show residents welcoming the rebels and celebrating their arrival. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali announced that he is ready to hand over power to a leadership elected by the people.
“For all military forces in the city of Damascus, it is strictly forbidden to approach public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister until they are officially handed over,” announced HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The rebels also say they have been in contact with various officials who have surrendered and that prisoners have been released from the notorious Saidnaya prison outside Damascus.
Details: Assad is on his way to Moscow
During Sunday morning, the rebels seized a state television channel where they stated that they had “overthrown the tyrant” Bashar al-Assad. The rebels are also said to be looking for Assad and are said to have interrogated several people in the Syrian military and intelligence services who might have knowledge of where he went, a source told CNN.
At the same time, there are several reports that Assad has left Damascus and is on his way out of Syria. Axio’s foreign correspondent Barak Ravid states on X that Assad is on his way to Moscow.
“An Israeli official told me: Assad left Damascus around midnight last night and flew to a Russian base in Syria with the intention of continuing from there to Moscow. We have no clear indication of whether he has left Syria yet,” writes Ravid.
An American source also states that they tracked Assad and saw that he left Damascus during the evening and that it is believed that he is on his way to the United States.
Details: Hezbollah has withdrawn
The Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah was said yesterday to have sent around 2,000 soldiers to Syria to face the rebels’ offensive, AFP reported. On Saturday, sources told AFP that Hezbollah, which is closely allied with the Syrian regime, has withdrawn its soldiers from Damascus and the city of Homs. Hezbollah is said to have instead reached areas on the Syrian coast.
Rebels from HTS are also said to have advanced in parts of eastern Syria that were previously controlled by the Syrian regime forces.