Syrian Rebels Enter Capital Damascus, Bringinggger to End of Assad’s Decades-Long Rule
Syrian rebels have reportedly entered the capital Damascus, facing scant resistance from regime forces, marking a significant turning point in the long-running conflict. The rebels have been making swift gains, capturing key cities and towns, including Homs, which was declared “fully liberated” by the opposition’s main armed group.
The rapid progress has been described as “stunningly swift” by observers, with the rebel group capturing four cities in just 24 hours. The rebels, joined by a fresh uprising in the southern Daraa province, have set their sights on Damascus, with one resident reporting that the rebels are now in the Barzeh neighborhood and that clashes are underway.
The capture of Homs, a city of huge strategic importance, has effectively split the Assad regime in two, severing the government in Damascus from the coast. The city’s fall has led to scenes reminiscent of the Arab Spring protests a decade ago, with residents tearing down and setting fire to posters of President Bashar al-Assad.
The rebels’ progress has been met with a reported lack of resistance from regime forces, with some senior officials said to be defecting to the rebels. The Syrian president’s office has maintained that President al-Assad has not fled, but a source with knowledge of the situation claims he is nowhere to be found in Damascus.
As the city’s residents celebrate, the scenes are eerily reminiscent of the original protests against the Assad regime. In one video, a resident was seen shattering a framed portrait of Assad, a reference to the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2012 that killed over 200. The fall of Damascus marks a significant turning point in the conflict, with the potential for a new era in Syrian politics.