Rebel fighters on Sunday, December 8 declared the Syrian capital of Damascus “liberated” in a televised statement carried on state television.
Rebel fighters could be seen on the grounds of the Syrian presidential palace on Sunday,
Footage shared on social media showed fighters by a gate house located on the southern edge of the palace grounds.
The men can be seeing firing guns in the air in celebration on the otherwise deserted entrance area.
“Damascus has been liberated and the tyrant Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown, and oppressed prisoners in regime prisons have been released,” a spokesperson said reading from a statement surrounded by roughly a dozen other rebels.
“We ask people and fighters to protect all property in Free Syria…long live Syria free for all Syrians of all sects,” he added.
The rebels moved to capture the state media offices early on Sunday morning after entering Damascus.
Rebel forces, receiving arms from NATO and Gulf Cooperation Council states, initially made significant advances against the government forces, who were receiving financial and military support from Iran and Russia. Rebels captured the regional capitals of Raqqa in 2013 and Idlib in 2015. Consequently, Iran and Russia launched separate military interventions in support of the Syrian government in 2014 and 2015 respectively, shifting the balance of the conflict.
Following the Russian war on Ukraine and Israel‘s decimation of Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran‘s military apparatus, the rebels last week seized the initiative and made a startling quick attack on government forces .
As at Sunday morning, president Bashir Al-Assad is no where to be found and has reportedly flown to a secret location.
According to CNN, rebels have been questioning Syrian military officers and intelligence officials who might have knowledge about his movements, according to a source familiar with the rebels’ operations.
The Syrian leader has not been seen or heard from publicly since rebels entered the capital early on Sunday morning.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said the government stands ready “to cooperate with any leadership the people choose,” in a recorded message on Sunday morning.
“We are ready to cooperate with any leadership the people choose, offering all possible support to ensure a smooth and systematic transition of government functions, preserving state facilities,” he said.
Ghazi al-Jalali called on Syrians to protect public facilities, saying they belonged to all citizens.
“I am here in my home, did not leave and do not intend to leave it except in a peaceful manner to ensure the continuing operation of public institutions, state facilities, and to broadcast safety and security for all citizens.”
“We extend our hands to every Syrian citizen who is concerned about safeguarding this nation’s assets… I urge all citizens not to harm any public property because, ultimately, it belongs to them.”
The militant leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), the main group driving the country’s armed opposition, released a statement calling on rebel forces to leave state institutions unharmed.
“To all military forces in the city of Damascus, it is strictly forbidden to approach public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former Prime Minister until they are officially handed over, and it is also forbidden to fire bullets into the air,” Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, wrote on telegram.
On Thursday, Jolani projected a different vision for the war-torn country in an interview with CNN. In a sign of his attempted rebranding, he also publicly used his real name for the first time – Ahmed al-Sharaa – instead of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the nickname by which he is widely known.
