Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, notorious for his use of chemical weapons against his own population, has fled the country as rebel forces stormed the capital city of Damascus, according to Reuters.
Assad, who trained as an eye doctor in the United Kingdom before inheriting power from his father, Hafez al-Assad, escaped alongside his British-born wife, Asma, and their three children. Their destination remains unknown, as Syrian state television confirmed their departure but offered no further details.
The apparent overthrow marks the end of more than 50 years of Assad family rule, signaling a seismic shift in Middle Eastern power dynamics.
A video broadcast on Syrian state television featured rebel leaders proclaiming Assad’s ousting and urging opposition fighters and citizens to safeguard the institutions of “the free Syrian state.” The statement declared, “Long live the free Syrian state that is to all Syrians and all their sects and ethnic groups.”
Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali admitted early Sunday that Assad’s whereabouts were unknown after losing communication with him late Saturday. Meanwhile, celebratory scenes unfolded across Damascus, with residents gathering in central squares, chanting anti-Assad slogans, honking car horns, and firing guns into the air.
The Assad regime’s collapse follows nearly 14 years of civil war, during which Islamist rebel groups sought to dismantle the Iran-backed government. The decisive blow was dealt by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization with roots in Al-Qaeda.
HTS, led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani—who has a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head—played a central role in toppling Assad. Golani has sought to rebrand HTS as a more moderate Islamist group, though experts warn its intentions remain radical.
Phillip Smyth of the Atlantic Council described HTS as “an outgrowth of Al-Qaeda with connections to Turkey,” noting that their ultimate goal is to establish a Taliban-style Islamist regime with minor adjustments. As HTS consolidates its power, Syria faces the prospect of transitioning from one form of authoritarianism to another, raising concerns about the future of the nation and the region.
The downfall of the Assad dynasty marks a monumental turning point, but the road ahead for Syria remains fraught with uncertainty as competing factions vie for control in the wake of this historic upheaval.
