The Assad fifty years dynasty in Syria has been put to an end, as rebels forces in the early hours of Sunday captured Damascus and declared the capital city “free” of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad following the withdrawal of government forces.
Reuters reports that President Assad left Damascus by plane for an unknown destination following a string of victories by the rebels across major cities in the last few days.
Similarly, BBC reports that gunfire has been reported in the centre of the Syrian capital Damascus as rebels opposed to the rule of President Bashar al-Assad continue their lightning offensive across the country.
Unverified footage shared on social media shows thousands of inmates have been freed from the notorious Saydnaya prison – where Assad’s opponents were tortured and executed
The rebel advance on Damascus comes after they said they had “fully liberated” the city of Homs
The development in Syria brings to an end 53 years of the Assad dynasty first entrenched by Bashar Al-Assad’s father, Hafez Al-Assad who first came to power through a coup in 1971.
Hafez Assad was in power until his death in 2000 when his son, Bashar took over and the development is bound to redefine regional power dynamics.
“President Bashar al-Assad has left Syria, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday.
“”Assad decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully,” the statement said, adding that “Russia did not participate in these negotiations.
“The Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition,” it said.