Syrian Government Reportedly Falls, Ending 50-Year Assad Family Rule

Summary:
The Syrian government appears to have fallen after a rapid rebel offensive, marking the end of the Assad family’s 50-year rule. Reports indicate that President Bashar Assad fled the country as insurgents entered Damascus, following the capture of key cities like Homs, Aleppo, and Hama. The swift advance of opposition forces has led to widespread celebrations in the capital, with major government sites abandoned. Diplomatic talks in Doha, involving Iran, Russia, and Turkey, urge for peace and political engagement. The fall of Assad’s regime signals a significant shift in the ongoing Syrian conflict.

BEIRUT: The Assad regime’s 50-year rule in Syria appears to have ended early Sunday following a rapid and sweeping rebel offensive. Opposition sources reported that President Bashar Assad fled the country to an undisclosed location as insurgents entered Damascus after a swift advance.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali stated that the government was ready to hand over power to a transitional government and urged citizens to avoid damaging public property. In a video statement, he claimed he remained in Syria and would continue working, though he did not address reports of Assad’s departure.

Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, confirmed that Assad left Damascus on Sunday. Iranian state media, citing Al Jazeera, also reported Assad’s departure but offered no additional details.

In Damascus, armed residents patrolled the streets, gunfire echoed across the city, and key government sites, including police headquarters and army checkpoints, appeared abandoned. Footage shared by opposition-linked media showed tanks in central squares and celebratory gatherings as mosques broadcast calls of “God is great.”

This marks the first time rebels have reached Damascus since 2018. Their recent campaign has seen them capture major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, and Homs. The fall of Homs, a strategic city connecting Damascus to the Assad stronghold in Latakia, is being described as a turning point in the conflict.

Meanwhile, international diplomatic efforts intensified. In Doha, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and Turkey called for an end to hostilities. Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to engage with the Syrian people during a lull in fighting and expressed concern over Syria’s territorial integrity.

As rebel forces tighten their grip, the collapse of Assad’s government signals a dramatic shift in Syria’s decade-long conflict.