Syrian rebels announce fall of Assad's government after president 'flees on plane' - as celebrations begin in Damascus

8 December 2024, 07:00 | Updated: 9 December 2024, 07:50

The Syrian government has fallen after rebels took control of Homs overnight, entering Damascus and toppling the Assad regime.

President Bashar al Assad fled Damascus on a plane as rebels closed in, setting out for an unknown destination, two senior Syrian army officers speaking told the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday that Assad had left office and departed the country after ordering a peaceful handover of power.

In the statement, the ministry did not confirm where al-Assad was located, with Russia noting it had not taken part in the talks around his departure.

The rebels claiming victory form part of a rapidly moving offensive that has seen them take over some of Syria's largest cities in recent days.

Syria's Prime Minister, Ghazi al-Jalali, added that he too was ready to hand over governmental to the opposition in a peaceful transition of power.

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"I am here in my home," the Prime Minister said.

"I have not left it and do not intend to leave, except in a peaceful manner that ensures the continued functioning of public institutions and state facilities, promoting security and reassurance for our fellow citizens."

Abu Mohammed Al-Julani, the leader of HTS, the main victorious rebel group, has said that Syria could now transition into a more democratic nation, with support from the UN and international assistance.

It comes as Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, told LBC the government "welcomes" news of Mr Assad's departure.

"We want to see stability; we want to see the end of tyrants and dictators," said Rayner.

Speaking on Sunday with Lewis Goodall, Rayner insisted the new priority was to "protect" the Syrian people and the infrastructure, ensuring "democracy" prevails in the region.

Read in full: Syrian rebels 'reach Damascus' and take full control of Homs as Trump vows no US intervention

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“We will work with our allies and the UN resolution to see democracy in Syria” said Rayner on the subject of future elections.

“Everyday life can continue... it is a fast moving process. The foreign office is in touch with our counterparts.

“We don’t want to see terrorist organisation. We want to see a democratic government there,” adding: “Terrorist organisations won’t deliver peace in that region.”

It comes amid reports that prisoners were among the first priority on the rebel's list, with thousands freed from jails across the captured cities.

Lewis Goodall speaks to Angela Rayner | Watch the full interview

Saturday saw opposition forces take total control of the key city of Homs - after a resurgence in fighting in the last week which started in Aleppo.

Earlier in the day, reports suggested the rebels had reached the suburbs of Damascus, showing an overnight surge by the rebels to take the Syrian capital.

Protesters were seen to bring down a statue of the late father of Syria's president in the main square of a suburb, a few miles from the centre of the capital.

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Celebratory gunfire could be heard echoing in the streets, with rebels firing into the air with flags draped around their shoulders.

The group has called for the downfall of Mr Assad and headed to government buildings in the heavily policed area of the city.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents are now active in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya.

"We are following the dramatic events in Syria with extreme concern. As a result of negotiations between B. Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict in the SAR, he decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully," said Russia's Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

"Russia did not participate in these negotiations. At the same time, we appeal to all parties involved with a strong call to renounce the use of violence and resolve all governance issues by political means. In this regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition.

"We call for respect for the opinions of all ethno-confessional forces of Syrian society, and support efforts to establish an inclusive political process based on the unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

"We expect that these approaches will be taken into account by the UN and all interested players, including in the context of the implementation of the initiative of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Syria, Georg Pedersen, to urgently organize inter-Syrian inclusive negotiations in Geneva.

Adding: "At the same time, all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of our citizens in Syria. Russian military bases in Syria are on high alert. There is currently no serious threat to their security."

According to Reuters, rebel sources say they had reached a deal for the army to withdraw from the Deraa region on Saturday.

Military officials were reportedly being given safe passage to the capital, Damascus - which sits roughly 100km away.

As the situation developed, Incoming US president Donald Trump said that the US will not involve themselves in the conflict under his administration.

The President-elect said on X: "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!"

Former head of MI6 Sir John Sawers has said the fall of the Assad regime in Syria will be a "surprise" to UK intelligence services.

He told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "I think it was a surprise to everyone, it probably came as a surprise to Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which have been the main rebel group involved in this march on Damascus, I don't think they expected to go so far so fast.

"I think we're all surprised at how the regime forces have just completely collapsed, even those most loyal to the regime and closest to the regime.

"So, yes, it is a surprise, it's not a failure of intelligence, it's a surprise to everyone."

While Trump was in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, he made the statement online before a trilateral meeting with Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Mr Trump added: "Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.

"This is where former President Obama refused to honor his commitment of protecting the RED LINE IN THE SAND, and all hell broke out, with Russia stepping in.

Mr Assad is still believed to be in the capital, according to a statement made by his office.

It comes as the government hit out at "false news" about the president leaving the country.

Syria's government has long been supported by both Russia and Iran, with the authoritarian party's grip on power crumbling as insurgents began seizing major cities.

The rebels first captured Aleppo in the north, with Hama in the centre, Deir el Zor in the east, Suweida, Quneitra and Deraa in the south falling soon after.

According to rebel sources - as reported by Reuters, insurgents entered Homs from the north and east on Saturday.

Taking the city of Homs would cut off Damascus from Mr Assad's regime as well as from Russian bases.