A group of unknown gunmen stormed the Iranian embassy in Damascus on Sunday, shortly after Islamist rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of the city and overthrew the regime of President Bashar Assad. Iranian state television reported that the embassy was stormed by an armed group different from the rebels, and Arab and Iranian media shared footage of the premises, where assailants rummaged through furniture and documents and damaged windows.
Assad and his wife, Asma, fled Damascus with their three children, according to Syrian television reports. It was unclear where they were headed. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Assad left Syria following negotiations with rebel groups and left “instructions” to transfer power peacefully. The ministry stated that the Kremlin was not directly involved in the negotiations.
Rebel fighters celebrated the capture of the city, with crowds gathering in central squares to celebrate the news of Assad’s departure. Celebratory gunshots rang out in some areas, while others chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked horns.
The overthrow of Assad marks a significant turning point in Middle East politics and presents a crisis for the incoming Trump administration. Experts have warned that HTS, the rebel group, seeks to impose a totalitarian Islamist regime on the population.
In a statement, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani said that public institutions would remain under the supervision of the prime minister until they were officially handed over.
