Syrian Rebels expunge Assad

Syrian rebels expunge Assad and toppled his government in the country while the prime minister called for a free and fair election in Syria.

PM Jalali says he had contacted rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to discuss managing the current transitional period.

Syria’s army command notified officers on Sunday that Assad’s regime had ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters.

Syrian Rebels expunge Assad, ending his 24-year Year Rule over the country

• Syrian rebels expected to broadcast first statements to the people
• Assad fled out of Damascus to an unknown destination
• PM Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali declares readiness to support transition as rebels announce they will maintain supervision of public institutions through the “former prime minister” during the handover​
• US President Biden says the White House is in touch with regional partners
• Thousands of Homs residents celebrate in the streets

Assad, who had crushed all forms of dissent, flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters, as rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.

“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 rebels said, referring to a large military prison on the outskirts of Damascus where the Syrian government detained thousands.

The dramatic collapse also marks a seismic moment for the Middle East, dealing a massive blow to Russia and Iran, which have lost a key ally at the heart of the region and creating more uncertainty as the Gaza offensive rages.

The pace of events has stunned Arab capitals and raised fears of a new wave of regional instability.

It marks a turning point for Syria, shattered by more than 13 years of war, which has turned cities to rubble, killed hundreds of thousands of people, and forced millions abroad as refugees.

Stabilizing western areas of Syria captured in the rebels’ advance will be key. Western governments, which have shunned the Assad-led state for years, must decide how to deal with a new administration in which a globally designated terrorist group—Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—looks set to have influence.