DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian government has collapsed, with rebel forces taking control of the capital, Damascus.
President Bashar Assad’s whereabouts remain unknown, but reports indicate he fled the country as insurgents closed in on the capital. The collapse marks a significant turning point in Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced half the country’s pre-war population.
The rebel forces, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, met little resistance from the Syrian army, having already seized control of major cities like Aleppo and Hama.
As news of the government’s collapse spread, celebrations erupted across Damascus, with crowds gathering to pray and chant anti-Assad slogans. The United Nations has called for an “orderly political transition” in Syria, with special envoy Geir Pedersen urging urgent talks in Geneva to ensure a peaceful handover of power.
The international community is watching closely as the situation in Syria continues to unfold. Russia, Assad’s chief international backer, has yet to comment on the government’s collapse.
In a statement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Assad fled the country on Sunday, while Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government is ready to hand over power to a transitional government.
The collapse of Assad’s government marks a significant turning point in Syria’s civil war, raising questions about what the future holds for the war-torn country.
