As the dictator Bashar al-Assad abruptly left Syria, the crowds stormed into the presidential palace and looted his belongings.
The 24-year reign of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad ended as he departed from the country by aircraft to an undisclosed location as opposition forces entered Damascus with minimal resistance, according to reports.
Two senior military officials informed Reuters that Assad, who governed the nation strictly for 24 years, boarded an aircraft and left Damascus for an unspecified destination.
Several videos emerged on the online space showing Syrians freely entering Bashar al-Assad’s Presidential Palace in Damascus as he left and moved to an undisclosed location.
One of the user shared a video on X and said that “citizens entered Assad’s palace and started looting it. ” Meanwhile another user said, “#Syrian people enter #Assad’s “People’s Palace,” following his ouster.”
Not only the presidential palace but also the statue of Bashar al-Assad has also been destroyed. Several videos showing the statue was destroyed and being dragged.
“Assad statues are being toppled in Damascus and across Syria,” one of the user said on X. Another user said, “A profoundly symbolic moment for Syria: the toppling of Assad’s statue in Homs after the rebels took control, facing little resistance. Homs is regarded as the capital of the Syrian revolution that began in 2011 & suffered one of the most brutal crackdowns.”
‘Assad is gone, Homs is free’
Opposition forces, including some with Al-Qaeda connections, promptly took control of state media facilities in Damascus “to broadcast the victory announcement over Assad,” according to their statement reported by CNN.
The capture of Damascus follows the fall of Homs, a crucial junction linking the capital to government-controlled coastal areas, which surrendered to rebels on Saturday after less than a day of combat.
Following the withdrawal of government forces, residents celebrated in the streets, chanting “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad.”
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who leads the al-Qaeda affiliated Tahrir al-Sham, declared after securing Homs that rebels were positioned to control the entire country, stating “the end of the criminal regime is near.”