Syrian President Assad’s Regime Falls as Rebels Seize Damascus, Ending 50 Years of Family Rule

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed early Sunday after the armed Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) stormed into Damascus, Syria’s capital.

The rapid advance prompted widespread celebrations, with citizens taking to the streets, signalling the end of nearly five decades of Assad family rule.

In this photo provided Nov. 9, 2019, by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks in Damascus, Syria. AP

Syria’s Prime Minister pledged to oversee a peaceful transition of power, a commitment echoed by a rebel leader speaking on the nation’s public broadcaster.

“People are fed up with 50 years of Assad rule,” the leader declared, capturing the sentiment of a country that has endured a brutal civil war since 2011.

People celebrate as the statue of former President of Syria Hafez al-Assad is toppled in Homs, Syria, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on December 8, 2024. Social Media via REUTERS

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling this development a “new page” for Syria, while Assad’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

In a surprising move, Russia’s Foreign Ministry — a key ally of Assad throughout the conflict — announced that the president had stepped down and left the country following negotiations with rebel forces. This claim has yet to be independently verified.

A New Chapter for Syria?

The fall of Damascus to HTS marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing Syrian conflict, which has left millions displaced and the country’s infrastructure devastated.

Analysts closely watch how power dynamics will shift and whether this marks the beginning of lasting peace or continued instability.

An opposition fighter steps on a broken bust of former Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus. AP

As international leaders react, the people of Syria are left hoping this moment signals actual change — a chance to rebuild and reclaim their future after years of war and authoritarian rule.