Following the rebel takeover of Damascus, Russia officially announced that Bashar al-Assad had resigned and left Syria. His last public appearance was a week prior, where he vowed to crush the rebels. Conflicting reports place Assad on a Syrian Air plane departing Damascus airport early Sunday, though flight tracking data is inconclusive. The plane’s transponder signal was lost near Homs, but no crash has been reported.
Rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), claim to have swiftly captured Damascus, marking a potential turning point in Syria’s 13-year civil war. This claim, which remains unverified, follows the rebels’ rapid seizure of several major Syrian cities, including Homs, Daraa, and Aleppo, over the past few days. The Syrian Prime Minister stated his intention to remain, yet reports suggest President Assad has fled the capital. International reaction is varied, with the U.S. monitoring the situation and Israel deploying troops to its border.
Despite Afghanistan’s geographical distance from Syria, the Taliban express significant support for Syrian rebels, driven by shared extremist Sunni ideology and a desire for the implementation of Sharia law in Syria mirroring their own governance. Although no official statement has been released, social media activity reveals considerable Taliban sympathy for the rebel cause. This support stems from perceived ideological kinship between the Taliban and Syrian jihadist groups. A senior Taliban official confirmed this, highlighting the hope for a Syria governed under Sharia law.
President Bashar al-Assad’s rule has ended after a swift rebel offensive, according to a Syrian officer and the head of the main opposition group. Assad reportedly fled Damascus, leaving the city to jubilant citizens celebrating in the streets. Rebel forces announced the end of Assad’s 50-year regime and pledged a new era of peace and justice for Syria. The rebels also reported the surrender of hundreds of Assad regime members.
John Q. Hosedrinker