Thousands of Syrians gathered in a main square in Damascus on Sunday, chanting “Freedom” as they celebrated the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after more than 13 years of civil war.
The Islamist rebels’ capture of Damascus marked the end of decades of Assad family rule, forcing Assad to flee to an unknown destination with his family, Reuters reports.
“We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” the rebels declared, referring to a notorious jail on Damascus’ outskirts.
Iran’s embassy in Damascus was stormed by rebels following the city’s capture, according to Press TV.
Syria’s army command informed officers that Assad’s rule had ended, though military operations reportedly continued against “terrorist groups” in Hama, Homs, and the Deraa countryside.
The Syrian rebel coalition announced it was working to transfer power to a transitional governing body with full executive authority.
“The great Syrian revolution has moved from the stage of struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria together that befits the sacrifices of its people,” the coalition stated.
The collapse of Assad’s regime followed a shift in regional dynamics, including the deaths of key Hezbollah leaders and Russia’s focus on its war in Ukraine. Turkey-backed Syrian forces, meanwhile, continued their push against Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali called for free elections to determine Syria’s future. Jalali also revealed discussions with rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to manage the transitional period.
Joshua Landis, a Syria expert, noted, “The real question is how orderly will this transition be, and it seems quite clear that Golani is very eager for it to be an orderly one.”
However, concerns remain over Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) influence.
The group, formerly affiliated with al Qaeda, spearheaded the rebel advances and may face resistance from regional powers like the UAE and Egypt.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani severed ties with al Qaeda in 2016 and appears focused on rebuilding Syria. “They are going to have to rebuild. They will need Europe and the U.S. to lift sanctions,” Landis added.
Stabilising Syria’s western regions and managing competing international interests will prove critical in shaping the country’s future.