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| Syria War Live Updates: Syrians celebrate the arrival of opposition fighters in Damascus on Sunday. (AP Photo) |
Syria War News Live Updates: Syrian rebels in their first announcement on state television Sunday stated that they have freed Damascus and overthrown President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while freeing all jailed prisoners. Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the country to an unknown destination as rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments. Meanwhile, the rebels stormed the Iran’s embassy following their capture of Damascus prompting Iraq to evacuate its embassy in Syria and move its staff to Lebanon, Reuters reported, citing multiple state media agencies.
What’s the current status of the war? With a move on Damascus, the rebels are aiming to deal a severe blow to the Assad government as it now controls only 3 of the 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The Syrian army stated that it was continuing operations against “terrorist groups” in the key cities of Hama and Homs and in Deraa countryside, as reported by Reuters. Meanwhile, Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Similarly, Jordan also closed a border crossing with Syria.
How did the crisis start? Rebel forces had been kept at bay for more than a decade with Iranian and Russian military support. However, Al-Assad faced a surprise offensive launched from the country’s northwest. His government rapidly ceded territory, without much military defence or help of one of the country’s strongest allies, Iran, which began to evacuate its military commanders and personnel from Syria on Friday.
Following are reactions from around the world to events in Syria. Syria’s army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule has ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters, following a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise.
US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
“President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” the White House said in a statement.
US PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP
“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,” Trump posted on X. “Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.”
ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANTONIO TAJANI
“I am following with concerned attention the evolution of the situation in Syria. I am in constant contact with our embassy in Damascus and with the office of the Prime Minister. I have called an emergency meeting at 10:30 at the Foreign Ministry”, Tajani said on X.
UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA GEIR PEDERSEN
Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, a statement said.
He urged all Syrians to prioritize dialogue, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future.
PHILIPPINES’ DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians.
We express concern regarding the situation of our Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.
(With Reuters inputs)
Iran’s embassy was stormed by Syrian rebels following their capture of Damascus, Iran’s English-language Press TV reported on Sunday. – Reuters
Iraq has evacuated its embassy in Syria and moved staff to Lebanon, the Iraqi state news agency reported on Sunday, hours after rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad and took control of the capital.
Reasons behind the evacuation were not made public. – Reuters
The Syrian rebel coalition said on Sunday it is continuing work to complete the transfer of power in Syria to a transitional governing body with full executive powers.
“The great Syrian revolution has moved from the stage of struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria together that befits the sacrifices of its people,” it added in a statement. – Reuters
“This change presents an opportunity to build a new Syria based on democracy and justice that secures the rights of all Syrians,” Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said in a written statement, praising the fall of the “authoritarian regime in Damascus.”The Kurdish-led group has a significant presence in northeastern Syria, where they have clashed with the extremist Islamic State group and Turkish-backed militias over the years. – AP
Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, according to a statement published on Sunday.
The diplomat urged all Syrians to prioritize dialogue, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future. – Reuters
The Israeli military said Sunday it also sent troops to “other places necessary for its defense,” and that the force deployment was meant to provide security for residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.It added it was “not interfering with the internal events in Syria.”Israel captured that territory from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it, a move not recognized by much of the international community, which views the territory as occupied. A later ceasefire agreement created a demilitarized buffer zone between the two countries’ territories, prohibiting military presence or activity from either side in the area. United Nations peacekeepers have patrolled the area since 1974. – AP
Senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash faced a series of direct questions over Syria, particularly as the United Arab Emirates in recent years had sought to rehabilitate Assad’s image in the Arab world.Asked if Assad was heading to the UAE, Gargash said: “When people ask where is Bashar al-Assad going to, I say, you know, when you really look at this, this is really at the end of the day a footnote in history. I’m reminded a little bit by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918 when he went into a long exile.”
He added: “But I don’t think when you look at that period, this is really critical.”There has been speculation Assad could flee to the UAE, where his extended family is known to own properties in Dubai. Flight-tracking data showed private jets moving between Damascus, Syria, and the UAE on Saturday.Gargash spoke Sunday at the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. – AP
The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too.Eight key countries gathered with the U.N. special envoy on Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Summit for two hours of discussions Saturday night, and more will follow. The U.N. envoy seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.”
Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011 as an uprising against Assad’s rule, dragged in big outside powers, created space for jihadist militants to plot attacks around the world and sent millions of refugees into neighbouring states.
The frontlines of Syria’s complex civil war were dormant for years. Then Islamists once affiliated with Al Qaeda suddenly burst into action, posing the biggest challenge to Assad, who had survived years of gruelling war and international isolation with the help of Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
But Assad’s allies were focussed on and weakened by other crises, leaving Assad at the mercy of his opponents with an army that was not prepared to defend him.
Israel, which has severely weakened the Iran-backed groups Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, will likely celebrate the fall of Assad, another of Iran’s key regional allies. But the prospects of an Islamist group ruling Syria will likely raise concerns.
President elect and former President of the United States Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, after Asaad fled Syria stating, “Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever.”
He further added, “Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success. Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!”
Assad-led state for years, must decide how to deal with a new administration in which a globally designated terrorist group – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – looks set to have influence.
HTS is Syria’s strongest rebel group and some Syrians remain fearful it will impose draconian Islamist rule or instigate reprisals.
A Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was reported to have been taken by rebels, according to data from the Flightradar website.
The aircraft initially flew towards Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map.
Reuters could not immediately ascertain who was on board.
Two Syrian sources said there was a very high probability that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash as it was a mystery why the plane took a surprise U turn and disappeared off the map according to data from the Flightradar website.
“It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down…,” said one Syrian source without elaborating. – Reuters
Organisations that had previously been close to the government of Bashar Assad attempted to distance themselves after its rapid fall.
Syria’s al-Watan newspaper, historically pro-government, wrote: “We are facing a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood. We believe and trust that Syria will be for all Syrians.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing government statements in the past.
“We only carried out the instructions and published the news they sent us,” it said. “It quickly became clear now that it was false.” A statement from the Alawite sect – to which Assad belongs and which has formed the core of his base – called on the youth to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.”
“We were and still are advocates of peace and advocates of unity,” it said. It called for “the language of reason and dialogue to prevail over all parties in the service of Syria and its great people.”
(AP)
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali has said that he has been in touch with rebel leaders and that Syria needs to hold free elections, in order for the Syrian citizens to choose their next leadership, Reuters reported.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya, PM Jalali said that he had been in contact with rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to discuss managing the current transitional period, marking a notable development in efforts to shape Syria’s political future.
Rebels have declared in a televised statement that they have seized Damascus and overthrown the President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The Syrian rebel fighters were seen at the grounds of the Presidential Palace on Sunday as they declared Damascus free from President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
Images that were verified by CNN showed fighters by a gate house located on the southern edge of the grounds of the presidential palace.
The entrance area, which usually remains deserted, was seen with rebels crowding and firing celebratory shots in air.
Syrian state TV has aired a video stating President Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown and all the jail detainees have been freed.
Crowds of Syrians have gathered to celebrate in the central squares of Damascus, chanting anti-Assad slogans and honking car horns. In some areas, celebratory gunshots rang out.
“My feelings are indescribable,” said Omar Daher, a 29-year-old lawyer. “After the fear that he (Assad) and his father made us live in for many years, and the panic and state of terror that I was living in, I can’t believe it.” Daher said his father had been killed by security forces and his brother was in detention, his fate unknown. Assad “is a criminal, a tyrant and a dog,” he said.
“Damn his soul and the soul of the entire Assad family,” said Ghazal al-Sharif, another reveller in central Damascus. “It is the prayer of every oppressed person and God answered it today.
(AP)
Amid the Syrian rebel forces capturing the capital Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad reportedly fleeing the country, the White House has said that US President Joe Biden has been monitoring the situation.
“President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” the White House said.
Rebel forces have said that they will announce their victory and address the public of Syria on TV shortly, as they seized the public broadcaster’s office.
Syria’s opposition leader, Hadi al-Bahra, has told Al-Arabiya news that Damascus is safe and Bashar-al Assad’s regime has fallen and that “a dark era in Syria’s history has passed”.
In a post on X, Bahra who leads the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, told the Syrian public that “Damascus is safe”. The rebel forces entered the capital city on Sunday after capturing Homs, the third biggest city of Syria.
“To our people of all sects and religions, as long as you do not raise arms against any other citizen and as long as you stay in your homes, you are safe. There will be no cases of revenge or retaliation, and no violations of human rights. People’s dignity will be respected and their dignity will be preserved,” Bahra posted on X as reported by BBC.
The head of Syria’s main opposition group abroad, Hadi al-Bahra, told Al Jazeera that to have an agreement over the next stage for Syria, they would meet and discuss with Arab, European countries and the United Nations, reported Reuters.
Syrian rebel forces have announced that they are all set to broadcast their first message on TV to the Syrian public shortly.
Earlier on Sunday, the rebel groups said that in order to broadcast its victory announcement, they were seizing control of the radio and television headquarters in Damascus.
Since the rebel forces entered the capital city of Damascus on Sunday, the official state television broadcast has stopped.
Opposition fighters have entered Syria’s capital in a swiftly developing crisis that has taken much of the world by surprise. Syria’s army has abandoned key cities with little resistance. President Bashar Assad has now left the country. Who are these opposition fighters? If they take control of Damascus after seizing some of Syria’s largest cities, what then?
Here is a look at the stunning reversal of fortune for Assad and the government in just the past 10 days, and what might lie ahead as Syria’s 13-year civil war reignites.
The aim? Overthrow the government
This is the first time that opposition forces have reached the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when the country’s troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The approaching fighters are led by the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army.
Both have been entrenched in the northwest. They launched the shock offensive on Nov. 27 with gunmen capturing Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the central city of Hama, the fourth largest. The HTS has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations.
But the group said in recent years it cut ties with al-Qaida, and experts say HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years by focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that the aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government.
(AP)
The Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said that it was prohibited to go near the public institutions as the rebel forces announced that the institutions will remain under the supervision of ‘former prime minister’ until they are formally handed over.
Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali has said that he remains in his home and that he was ready to support continuity of governance.
Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the country as soon as the reports suggested that Syrian rebels entered the capital city of Damascus after capturing the third largest city of Syria, Homs.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said on Sunday that he is ready to support continuity of governance and that he remains in his home amid the rebels entering the capital Damascus.
Reports suggested that President Bashar al-Assad fled the country to an unknown location as soon as the Syrian rebels entered Damascus. Syria’s army command notified officers that Assad’s 24-year rule had ended.
It will be a “new Syria” where “everyone lives in peace and justice prevails”, the rebel group HTS which is leading the uprising said.
The Syrian army has notified its officers that President Bashar al-Assad’s rule has ended as rebels entered the capital city and announced that Damascus is “now free of Asad”.
As the news spread that rebels have entered the city of Damascus, two senior army officers told Reuters that President Assad flew out of the country to an unknown destination.
The rebels said, “We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” as reported by Reuters.
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