Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime collapsed Sunday as opposition forces seized control of Damascus, ending the family's iron grip on Syria. The president fled the country overnight, marking a stunning conclusion to a lightning-fast rebel offensive that took less than two weeks to succeed.
Video: Syria's prime minister emerges from residence to meet rebels for power handover. Credit: Arab media
"This historic moment defies description. We fought for this day and brought down the regime. Our sun has finally risen," a Syrian rebel told Israel Hayom on Sunday morning, as the Assad regime crumbled.
Another rebel commander from Idlib Governorate expressed his emotions to Israel Hayom: "I swear by Allah, the magnitude of our joy is beyond words. The regime's reign has ended and with it, our tragedies. The injustice is over. Fear has vanished along with the dictatorship. Truth has prevailed, as it was destined to do. This was Allah's promise. After enduring displacement, exile, casualties, and financial losses, our patience has been rewarded. Today, we savor the sweetness of victory."
Asked about the rebels' swift success in toppling the regime in under two weeks, he explained: "Force had to be met with force. Our joint military operations room, established by the rebels and opposition forces, proved decisive. The battles were fierce. By Allah's grace, we prevailed." Addressing neighboring countries, including Israel, the rebel added: "We extend our gratitude to all who supported us."
Throughout Syria, videos surfaced Sunday morning showing citizens tearing down statues of Hafez Assad, long considered a symbol of oppression. Hafez ruled Syria from 1970 until 2000 before his son Bashar assumed power. The younger Assad fled during the night to an undisclosed location. Dramatic footage emerged showing rebels taking control of prisons in the Damascus and Homs regions. At the infamous Sednaya prison, rebels accessed the control center and liberated inmates, some of whom had been so long imprisoned they struggled to recognize themselves.
The Syrian opposition leader, Ahmed al-Shara, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, issued directives to all military forces in Damascus, ordering them to maintain distance from public institutions still under the oversight of the Assad regime's prime minister, pending an orderly transition of power. Earlier, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali announced his intention to remain in Syria and facilitate an organized transfer of authority to the organizations.
