'Damascus has fallen': Syrian President Bashar Assad out, rebels announce start of a 'new era'

Syrian opposition fighters announced on Sunday that they had entered the capital, Damascus, marking a major shift in the country’s ongoing conflict. Residents reported gunfire and explosions, with footage showing a tank in a central square and people celebrating. Mosques amplified chants of “God is great.” The military command of Syria’s opposition announced that its fighters have entered Damascus, declaring the capital “free” from President Bashar Assad’s control.

President Bashar Assad flees the country

The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, told The Associated Press that President Bashar Assad left the country early Sunday. Abdurrahman stated that Assad took a flight from Damascus to an undisclosed location as opposition forces advanced toward the capital.

Assad’s exit ends the Assad family’s 54-year hold on power in Syria, which began with Hafez Assad’s rise in a bloodless coup in 1970. Hafez ruled until his death in 2000, after which Bashar Assad was elected and remained in power until being ousted on Sunday.


The opposition declared this development as the conclusion of “the dark period” and the beginning of a “new era in Syria.” Meanwhile, Iranian state television, a longtime supporter of Assad’s regime, reported that “terrorists” had entered Damascus. It cited Qatar’s Al Jazeera network, stating that Assad had left the capital but provided no further details.

First breach of Damascus since 2018

This is the first time opposition forces have entered Damascus since 2018. Previously, Syrian troops had retaken the outskirts of the capital after a prolonged siege. Sunday’s developments underscore the evolving dynamics of Syria’s civil conflict, which has persisted for over a decade.

Celebrations in the streets

Opposition-linked media broadcast footage of celebrations in Damascus, with some residents gathering in public squares as signs of defiance against the regime. The sound of celebratory gunfire echoed in certain neighborhoods, signaling the significance of the moment for many.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights continues to monitor the situation closely as both sides brace for potential further escalations.