Syrian President Bashar Assad has reportedly fled the country, leaving Damascus as opposition forces advanced into the capital after a swift and unexpected offensive that has shaken the foundations of his regime.
Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told the Associated Press that Assad left Damascus early Sunday on a flight to an undisclosed location. The departure marks a significant moment in Syria’s civil war, with the embattled president abandoning the capital as insurgents claimed to have entered the city.
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Witnesses in Damascus described scenes of panic and disarray. An Associated Press journalist reported seeing armed residents patrolling the outskirts of the capital as gunshots echoed in the distance. Damascus police headquarters appeared abandoned, its doors left ajar, with no officers in sight. Nearby, a military checkpoint had been deserted, with discarded uniforms strewn beneath a poster of Assad’s face.
Residents reported hearing explosions and gunfire throughout the city. Opposition-linked media broadcast footage of a tank stationed in a central square, where small groups of civilians gathered to celebrate. Calls of “God is great” reverberated from mosques across Damascus, signaling a rare moment of jubilation for opponents of the Assad regime.
This marks the first time opposition forces have breached Damascus since 2018, when Syrian government troops regained control of the city’s outskirts after years of heavy fighting.
The Syrian government has yet to issue a statement on Assad’s departure or the situation in Damascus. Pro-government Sham FM radio reported that the Damascus International Airport had been evacuated, with all flights suspended as the situation escalated.
The opposition’s advance into the capital follows a series of rapid territorial gains across Syria in recent weeks, as regime forces collapsed under coordinated attacks by insurgent groups. The opposition, which includes a coalition of local forces, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has capitalized on the regime’s faltering defenses.
This swift offensive has left the Assad government struggling to maintain control, with reports of widespread defections and abandoned military positions.
Assad’s departure casts uncertainty over the future of Syria and the broader region. Analysts warn that the power vacuum left by Assad’s absence could lead to intensified conflict between opposition factions vying for control of Damascus and other key territories.
With Assad’s allies, including Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, providing limited support, the regime’s ability to regroup appears increasingly unlikely.
The fall of Damascus would mark a major turning point in the Syrian civil war, potentially bringing an end to Assad’s 23-year rule. Opposition forces’ ability to consolidate their gains in the capital could determine the next phase of the conflict and the future of the war-torn nation.
As Damascus erupts in gunfire and celebrations, the world watches to see whether this marks the beginning of the end for Bashar Assad’s regime.