Rabat — Syrian rebels announced today that Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been toppled, and that the country “has been liberated.”
The opposition group announced the news on state TV today, with reports saying the move ended a 50-year family dynasty.
“We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” the opposition group said.
Following the announcement, Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali called for free elections to allow its people to decide their new leadership.
Videos went viral online showing celebrations across Damascus.
Many international leaders have commented on the news, including President-elect Donald Trump.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote “Assad is gone. His protector Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer.”
Many other countries made remarks on the ousting of al-Assad — including Qatar — whose Minister of State Mohammeed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi conveyed his country’s full support for the political process under UN Security Resolution 2254.
The resolution states the importance of ending hostilities and calls for a political solution to Syria‘s conflict.
Many reports say al-Assad fled Damascus but others assert there is no word on his whereabouts.
Earlier this month, members of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group stormed into Aleppo, forcing the Syrian army to withdraw.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — also known as HTS — has been engaged in the Syrian conflict for years.
The conflict in Syria started in 2011 due to political repression and economic struggles leading to widespread protests across the country.
The tensions worsened after the government’s crackdown on demonstrators.
The recent upheaval sent shockwaves across the Middle East, a region already reeling from ongoing conflicts and instability. Only time will tell the next future for Syria.
