Rebels Declare Damascus Liberated as Assad’s Regime Falls

 

Rebel forces announced the liberation of Damascus on Sunday, December 8, in a televised statement aired on state television, marking a pivotal moment in Syria's protracted civil war. The rebels also declared the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the release of political prisoners held in government facilities.

Footage shared on social media showed jubilant fighters celebrating near the southern gate of the Syrian presidential palace. Armed men fired their weapons into the air in triumph, with the typically secured entrance area appearing deserted.

“Damascus has been liberated, and the tyrant Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown,” a rebel spokesperson proclaimed in the televised address, flanked by a dozen fighters. He called on Syrians to safeguard public and private properties in the newly declared “Free Syria” and emphasized unity across all sectarian lines. “Long live Syria, free for all Syrians of all sects,” he added.

The rebels reportedly seized control of state media offices in the early hours of Sunday morning following their entry into Damascus. This move, symbolic of their control over the capital, underscores the scale of their advance and the rapid unraveling of the Assad regime's grip.

The fall of Damascus signals a significant shift in Syria’s 13-year conflict, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Assad’s government, once sustained by support from Russia, Iran, and allied militias, now appears to have collapsed under the weight of a coordinated and sweeping rebel offensive.

International observers are closely monitoring the situation as rebels consolidate their control. The dramatic developments raise questions about the future of Syria and the potential challenges of rebuilding a fractured nation.