– My feelings are indescribable, Omar Daher, a 29-year-old lawyer, told the Associated Press. In the last 24 hours, there have been significant changes in Syria, with rebels claiming to have taken control of the capital, Damascus. This marks one of the most significant developments in the Syrian civil war since it began in 2011. Now Syrians are gathering to celebrate what appears to be the end of Assad’s iron grip on the country. – After the fear that he (Assad) and his father made us live in for many years, and the panic and the state of terror that I lived in, I can’t believe it, says Daher. According to Daher, his father was killed by Syrian security forces. He is still uncertain about the fate of the driller, who was taken into custody. People gather in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square as they celebrate in Aleppo. Photo: Karam al-Masri / Reuters Assad is said to have left the country Syrian rebels announced in a televised statement early Sunday that they had liberated Damascus and overthrown President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year regime. They added that all prisoners have been released, writes the Reuters news agency. The presidential palace is in Damascus, but Syrian military sources tell Reuters that Assad has left the city on board a plane. Bashar al-Assad (th) took over from his father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000, and led the country through a period characterized by civil war and international conflicts. Assad is known for his harsh handling of uprisings and protests, especially during the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. Photo: Louai BESHARA / AFP It is unknown where he is, but according to the observer group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), he should have left the country. – We declare Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad, write the rebel forces on Telegram around 04.15. Residents of Damascus are still trying to make sense of the events that have taken place in the country in recent hours. – For the very first time there is a real feeling of freedom, a resident tells the BBC. Celebrating the fall of the government Videos and photos have circulated online showing residents of central Damascus and Aleppo celebrating the fall of the government. Pictures and videos from Syria show large crowds celebrating in the streets. They mark Assad’s fall by shooting into the air with both rifles and fireworks. Photo: LOUAI BESHARA / AFP The BBC has spoken to a resident who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons. He says he is overcome with emotion. – It is a feeling we have not experienced before, and it surprises us, he says. – The streets outside are filled with celebrations. In the central Umayyad Square, people celebrate in such a peaceful way. They set off fireworks. Yes, we hear some shots, but it’s mostly fireworks, he notes. People have flocked to the streets to celebrate the fall of the government in Syria. Photo: LOUAI BESHARA / AFP He notes that everyone is in disbelief that this happened without intense fighting or killing. Nevertheless, he says that there are worries and fears about the future and what it will bring. – But today all Syrians just want to celebrate. No one wants to think about tomorrow. We just want to celebrate now. The rebel forces that have now taken over include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist militant group. Below you can read more about what is happening in Syria: Hoping for a peaceful transition Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) calls the night’s developments in Syria dramatic, and advocates a peaceful transfer of power. – The situation is unclear, and there are many forces at play. It is positive that there has been so little blood and violence in recent days, he says in a statement to NTB. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide says it is very important to have a peaceful transition in Syria. Photo: Tom Balgaard / news The foreign minister calls Bashar al-Assad’s regime one of the most repressive in recent times. The Syrian president has been in power since 2000. – Now it is very important to have a peaceful transition and to get an inclusive political solution in place. The Syrian population deserves a better future, adds Eide. The head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militia, which led the lightning offensive against government forces, said on Saturday that “the era of tyranny is over”. However, Hilde Henriksen Waage, professor of history at UiO and senior researcher at the Institute for Peace Research (Prio), does not believe that the country will be better served with HTS in the leadership. – HTS is, so to speak, the local team of Al Qaeda. It’s like choosing between plague and cholera, she says of the rebel group and President Assad. Interested in abroad? Listen to the foreign affairs editor’s podcast: Published 08.12.2024, at 07.31 Updated 08.12.2024, at 07.33
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