Syrian opposition fighters celebrate after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
The Syrian government collapsed early Sunday, falling to a lightning rebel offensive that seized control of the capital of Damascus and sent crowds into the streets to celebrate the end of the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus after a stunning advance across the country.
The statement emerged hours after the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus following a remarkably swift advance across the country. "From Idlib to Damascus, it only took them a few days, thank God. May God bless them, the heroic lions who made us proud."
There was jubilation among some converging on the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria. These young people told CBC News they feel 'very good' about news that opposition fighters have entered the Syrian capital following a stunning advance. Anwar Gargash said Assad's destination at this point is a "footnote in history," comparing it to the long exile of German Kaiser Wilhelm II after World War I.
The rebels are led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, which has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations. "The challenges ahead remain immense and we hear those who are anxious and apprehensive," Geir said in a statement.
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