By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Timour Azhari and Jaida Taha
AMMAN/BEIRUT/CAIRO (Reuters) -Syrian rebels introduced on state tv on Sunday that they’ve ousted President Bashar al-Assad, eliminating a 50-year household dynasty in a lightning offensive that raised fears of a brand new wave of instability in a Center East gripped by battle.
Syria’s military command notified officers on Sunday that Assad’s regime had ended, a Syrian officer who was knowledgeable of the transfer informed Reuters.
However the Syrian military later mentioned it was persevering with operations towards “terrorist teams” in the important thing cities of Hama and Homs and in Deraa countryside.
Assad, who had crushed all types of dissent, flew out of Damascus for an unknown vacation spot earlier on Sunday, two senior military officers informed Reuters, as rebels mentioned that they had entered the capital with no signal of military deployments.
“We rejoice with the Syrian folks the information of liberating our prisoners and releasing their chains and saying the top of the period of injustice in Sednaya jail,” the rebels mentioned, referring to a big navy jail on the outskirts of Damascus the place the Syrian authorities detained hundreds.
Hundreds in vehicles and on foot congregated at a essential sq. in Damascus waving and chanting “Freedom” from a half century of Assad household rule, witnesses mentioned.
The dramatic collapse additionally marks a seismic second for the Center East, dealing an enormous blow to Russia and Iran, which have misplaced a key ally on the coronary heart of the area and creating extra uncertainty because the Gaza battle rages.
The tempo of occasions has surprised Arab capitals and raised fears of a brand new wave of regional instability.
It marks a turning level for Syria, shattered by greater than 13 years of battle which has turned cities to rubble, killed a whole bunch of hundreds of individuals, and compelled hundreds of thousands overseas as refugees.
Stabilising western areas of Syria captured within the rebels’ advance will probably be key. Western governments, which have shunned the Assad-led state for years, should resolve how one can take care of a brand new administration wherein a globally designated terrorist group – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – seems set to have affect.
HTS, which spearheaded the insurgent advances throughout western Syria, was previously an al Qaeda affiliate often known as the Nusra Entrance till its chief Abu Mohammed al-Golani, severed ties with the worldwide jihadist motion in 2016.
“The actual query is how orderly will this transition be, and it appears fairly clear that Golani may be very looking forward to it to be an orderly one,” mentioned Joshua Landis, a Syria professional and Director of the Heart for Center East Research on the College of Oklahoma.
Golani is not going to desire a repeat of the chaos that swept Iraq after U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. “They will must rebuild … they may want Europe and the U.S. to elevate sanctions,” Landis mentioned.
HTS is Syria’s strongest insurgent group and a few Syrians stay fearful it’ll impose draconian Islamist rule or instigate reprisals.
A Syrian Air aircraft took off from Damascus airport across the time the capital was reported to have been taken by rebels, based on knowledge from the Flightradar web site.
The plane initially flew in the direction of Syria’s coastal area, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, however then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the other way for a couple of minutes earlier than disappearing off the map.
Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm who was on board.
Two Syrian sources mentioned there was a really excessive likelihood that Assad might have been killed in a aircraft crash because it was a thriller why the aircraft took a shock U flip and disappeared off the map based on knowledge from the Flightradar web site.
“It disappeared off the radar, presumably the transponder was switched off, however I consider the larger likelihood is that the plane was taken down…,” mentioned one Syrian supply with out elaborating.
As Syrians expressed pleasure, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali mentioned the nation ought to have free elections so Syrians can select who they need.
However that will require a easy transition in a rustic with advanced competing pursuits, from Islamists to teams with hyperlinks to america, Russia and Turkey.
Jalali additionally mentioned he had been involved with insurgent commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to debate managing the present transitional interval, marking a notable improvement in efforts to form Syria’s political future.
Jordan affirmed on Sunday the significance of preserving the soundness and safety of Syria, the state information company reported.
U.S. President Joe Biden and his workforce have been monitoring the “extraordinary occasions in Syria” and have been in contact with regional companions, the White Home mentioned.
Syria’s civil battle, which erupted in 2011 as an rebellion towards Assad’s rule, dragged in massive exterior powers, created area for jihadist militants to plot assaults world wide and despatched hundreds of thousands of refugees into neighbouring states.
The frontlines of Syria’s advanced civil battle have been dormant for years. Then Islamists as soon as affiliated with Al Qaeda immediately burst into motion, posing the most important problem to Assad, who had survived years of gruelling battle and worldwide isolation with the assistance of Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
However Assad’s allies have been focussed on and weakened by different crises, leaving Assad on the mercy of his opponents with a military that was not ready to defend him.
Israel, which has severely weakened the Iran-backed teams Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, will possible rejoice the autumn of Assad, one other of Iran’s key regional allies. However the prospects of an Islamist group ruling Syria will possible elevate issues.
Hundreds of Homs residents poured onto the streets after the military withdrew from the central metropolis, dancing and chanting “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Lengthy dwell Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad”.
Rebels fired into the air in celebration, and youths tore down posters of the Syrian president, whose territorial management has collapsed in a dizzying week-long retreat by the navy.
The autumn of Homs gave the insurgents management over Syria’s strategic heartland and a key freeway crossroads, severing Damascus from the coastal area that’s the stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect and the place his Russian allies have a naval base and air base.
Homs’ seize can be a strong image of the insurgent motion’s dramatic comeback. Swathes of Homs have been destroyed by gruelling siege warfare between the rebels and the military years in the past. The preventing floor down the insurgents, who have been compelled out.
Rebels freed hundreds of detainees from town jail. Safety forces left in haste after burning their paperwork.
The top of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces Mazloum Abdi mentioned on Sunday on X: “We’re witnessing historic moments in Syria because the authoritarian regime in Damascus falls. This modification presents a chance to construct a brand new Syria based on democracy and justice, making certain the rights of all Syrians.”
