On Sunday, crowds gathered in Syria’s capital, Damascus, to celebrate what they believe to be the fall of Bashar Assad’s government. The celebrations, marked by chants, prayers, and occasional gunfire, came after opposition fighters made a surprising advance into the capital.
According to Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Syrian opposition war monitor, Assad fled Damascus on a flight early Sunday morning. There has been no official confirmation from the Syrian government regarding his departure.
This marks the first time since 2018 that opposition forces have entered Damascus, a city that had been largely controlled by Assad’s government after Syrian troops recaptured surrounding areas following years of siege.
In addition to Damascus, opposition forces reportedly seized the central city of Homs, Syria’s third-largest, as government forces abandoned it. The developments have sent shockwaves through the region.
In response to the escalating situation, Lebanon announced the closure of all land border crossings with Syria, except for one connecting Beirut to Damascus. Jordan has also closed its border crossing with Syria, signaling the growing regional concern over the rapidly changing political landscape in Syria.
