Rebel fighters declared on Sunday that they had seized the Syrian capital of Damascus after government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad were swiftly routed in just days. The claim, made by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), marks a potential turning point in Syria’s 13-year-long civil war.
“We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” stated Hassan Abdul-Ghani, a senior commander of HTS, via a WhatsApp post. He further added, “To the displaced people around the world, Free Syria awaits you.”
NBC News has not independently confirmed the rebels’ claim, and as of now, Assad’s whereabouts remain unclear. Media reports suggest that Assad may have fled Damascus, with Abdul-Ghani asserting that the president had departed the capital. However, these reports have not been independently verified.
In response to these claims, Syrian Prime Minister Ghazi al-Jalali stated that he remained in his home and had no intention of leaving, emphasizing that he was committed to preserving the continuity of the Syrian state and promoting public security. Al-Jalali also expressed the government’s readiness to cooperate with any leadership that the Syrian people choose.
In addition to the claim of capturing the capital, HTS also announced the liberation of Sednaya Prison, a notorious military detention facility located on the outskirts of Damascus. The Syrian government had detained thousands of prisoners at this facility, according to Reuters. HTS declared, “We announce to the Syrian people the news of the liberation of our captives and the breaking of their chains, proclaiming the end of the era of oppression in Sednaya Prison.”
The rapid fall of Damascus is seen as a significant blow to the outside forces that have supported Assad’s regime, including Russia, Iran, and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. These forces had been instrumental in helping Assad maintain his grip on power throughout the civil war.
U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly monitoring the developments closely and staying in contact with regional partners, as confirmed by White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, urging the U.S. to stay out of the situation in Syria, declaring that it was “not our fight” and advising the situation to “play out.”
The fall of Damascus comes shortly after HTS rebels launched a successful assault on Homs, one of Syria’s five largest cities, which also came under their control. With their rapid gains, HTS rebels were poised to march on the capital, effectively unchallenged. HTS also claimed to have captured the city of Daraa the previous day.
The U.S. has approximately 900 troops stationed in northern Syria, and the situation is being closely monitored by American officials.