Reports from Syria indicate that Syrian rebels have reached the central areas of the capital, Damascus, in a dramatic advance, as the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the rapid disintegration of security forces appear imminent.
On Sunday morning, the military command of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group announced that President Bashar al-Assad is no longer in the capital. In their statement, the group declared: “We announce that the city of Damascus is free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad.”
While this claim remains unverified independently, videos circulating on social media show Syrian government forces abandoning their posts and fleeing the area.
At the same time, Syria’s Prime Minister Ghazi al-Jalali appeared in a video message, stating that the government is ready to “extend a hand to the opposition” and hand over its functions.
Rebel leaders have instructed their fighters not to approach government buildings or sites and to wait for a formal transfer of power.
