New Delhi:
Islamist-led rebels declared they’d taken Damascus in a lightning offensive on Sunday, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending 5 a long time of Baath rule in Syria.
A video circulating on social media reveals rebels roaming contained in the presidential palace within the capital Damascus. They had been seen smashing Assad’s household portraits within the presidential palace.
Residents within the Syrian capital had been seen cheering within the streets, because the insurgent factions heralded the departure of “tyrant” Assad, saying: “We declare the town of Damascus free.”
AFPTV photos from Damascus confirmed rebels firing into the air at dawn, with some flashing the victory signal and crying “Allahu akbar”, or God is best.
Syrian rebels are actually smashing gilded Assad household portraits within the presidential palace of Damascus pic.twitter.com/BZpZuIjwUr
— Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) December 8, 2024
Some climbed atop a tank in celebration, whereas others defaced a toppled statue of Assad’s father, Hafez. “I can not consider I am residing this second,” tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha advised AFP by telephone. “We have been ready a very long time for at the present time,” he stated, including: “We’re beginning a brand new historical past for Syria.”
The president’s alleged departure, which was additionally reported by a battle monitor, comes lower than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched its marketing campaign difficult greater than 5 a long time of rule by the Assad household.
“After 50 years of oppression beneath Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and (compelled) displacement… we announce in the present day the tip of this darkish interval and the beginning of a brand new period for Syria,” the insurgent factions stated on Telegram.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali stated he was able to cooperate with “any management chosen by the Syrian folks”.
Russia’s decade lengthy effort to prop up Syrian dictator Assad has failed, with rebels in full management after just one week combating.
Inside Assad’s presidential palace, Damascus. pic.twitter.com/wHVqtezBfq
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) December 8, 2024
HTS is rooted within the Syrian department of Al-Qaeda. Proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Western governments, it has sought to melt its picture in recent times, and advised minority teams residing in areas they now management to not fear.
Because the offensive started, at the least 826 folks, principally combatants but additionally together with 111 civilians, have been killed. The United Nations stated the violence has displaced 370,000 folks.
US President-elect Donald Trump posted on his Reality Social platform that “Assad is gone”, including: “His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not involved in defending him any longer.”
Assad was for years propped up by Russia and Iran, whereas Turkey has traditionally backed the opposition.
Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had known as on Friday for a “political answer to the battle”, in a name with Turkish International Minister Hakan Fidan.
With inputs from AFP
