President Bashar al-Assad has resigned and left Syria, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday.
This marked a dramatic turn for the longtime leader who had resisted rebel forces for years with the support of Moscow and Tehran.
Al-Assad’s departure came after a swift rebel offensive that swept through Syria, marking a historic moment for a country ruled by the al-Assad family with an iron grip since the early 1970s. This victory represented a significant breakthrough for the rebel factions, who have been trying to overthrow him for over a decade amid a devastating civil war.
For many Syrians, al-Assad’s downfall was a moment of hope, signaling an end to the oppressive regime that had stifled freedoms. However, it also raised concerns about who might take control next and the potential for a power vacuum in a nation fragmented by various factions competing for dominance.
“Our hearts are dancing with joy,” said Walaa Salameh, 35, a resident of the Damascus area, in a phone interview. “We can’t predict the future and anything is possible, but the most important thing is we got rid of this oppressive regime.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement did not specify al-Assad’s current location, mentioning only that he had engaged in discussions with “several parties of the armed conflict.” No immediate response came from the Syrian presidency.
Earlier on Sunday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel coalition, announced on its Telegram channel that Damascus had been taken and Syrian forces were withdrawing.
State television, which had been broadcasting updates on al-Assad’s defensive efforts, shifted to air a statement from a group of nine rebels: “The city of Damascus has been liberated, the tyrant Bashar al-Assad has been toppled,” one of the rebels declared. “Long live a free and independent Syria for all Syrians of all sects.”
The events capped a rapid two weeks in which the coalition of rebel groups, previously confined to a corner of Syria’s northwest, captured major cities, ending the stalemate that had marked the 13-year-long civil war.
“No one should shed any tears over the end of the Assad regime,” said Daniel B. Shapiro, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, speaking in Bahrain.
The Rebels’ Role: The offensive leading to al-Assad’s downfall was spearheaded by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, who, despite being relatively unknown for years, led the push that captured Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, followed by Hama and the strategic city of Homs before advancing on the capital.
Al-Assad’s Whereabouts: Questions over al-Assad’s location remained unanswered as Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, Syria’s prime minister, stated he had not been in contact with al-Assad since Saturday. Al-Jalali affirmed he would stay in Syria and work with the leader chosen by the Syrian people. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham expressed its intention to collaborate with al-Jalali and instructed Syrian military forces in Damascus to avoid public institutions, which would remain under the prime minister’s supervision until formally handed over.
Loss of Allies: Al-Assad’s regime had been sustained by military support from Russia and Iran for over a decade. However, in recent days, both countries appeared to shift towards diplomatic approaches to protect their interests in Syria rather than direct military intervention. Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that decisions regarding Syria’s future were “solely the responsibility” of the Syrian people. The fall of al-Assad has also deprived Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, of an essential ally.
Prisoners Freed: As rebel forces advanced, they overtook notorious prisons where the Assad regime had imprisoned, tortured, and executed political detainees for decades. Videos emerging from north of Damascus showed groups of men walking through city streets at night, reportedly freed from Sednaya Prison, which the rebels had taken, according to war monitors and fighters.
Regional Implications: Israel’s military announced it had entered a demilitarized buffer zone within its territory in the Golan Heights, adjacent to Syria, due to the surge of instability near its borders. Iraq, meanwhile, secured its border with Syria, with the Iraqi News Agency reporting the closure of the Al-Qaim border crossing on Sunday.
