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<p>Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus on Sunday, sources reported, as opposition forces claimed a decisive victory in Homs, Syria&rsquo;s strategic heartland. The rebels declared their intent to liberate the capital, underscoring the escalating collapse of Assad's 24-year rule.</p>
<h3><strong>Assad&rsquo;s Escape Amid Chaos</strong></h3>
<p>Reports emerged that a Syrian Air jet departed Damascus at the time rebels announced control of the city, with Flightradar data showing the aircraft initially heading towards Assad&rsquo;s Alawite stronghold along Syria&rsquo;s coast. However, the plane made an abrupt U-turn, veering off course before vanishing from tracking systems. The final destination remains unknown.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Damascus saw sporadic gunfire and protests erupting in various neighborhoods. Thousands gathered in central squares, chanting "Freedom" and calling for an end to decades of authoritarian rule. Protests also erupted in rural areas southwest of the capital as defiant citizens seized on the apparent power vacuum.</p>
<h3><strong>Rebel Triumph in Homs</strong></h3>
<p>Homs, a critical city linking Damascus to Syria&rsquo;s Alawite-dominated coast, fell to rebel forces after only a day of fighting. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions seized major districts. Celebrations erupted as residents tore down posters of Assad and toppled a statue of his father, Hafez al-Assad, symbolising the rebels' resurgence after years of siege warfare.</p>
<p>Rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani hailed the victory as historic, urging fighters to show restraint towards surrendering forces. Rebels also freed thousands of detainees from a city prison, with security forces reportedly retreating in disarray, burning documents in their wake.</p>
<h3><strong>Strategic Collapse and Symbolic Shifts</strong></h3>
<p>The fall of Homs severs Damascus from the coastal region, home to Assad&rsquo;s Alawite base and key Russian military installations. It marks a symbolic comeback for the rebel movement in Syria&rsquo;s protracted 13-year civil war. Homs, once a focal point of rebellion, had been battered into submission years ago.</p>
<p>Across southwest Syria, insurgents advanced swiftly, establishing control over key territories and further isolating the regime. Rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani confirmed ongoing operations to secure Damascus&rsquo;s countryside, expressing confidence in their push toward the capital.</p>
<h3><strong>Signs of an Era&rsquo;s End</strong></h3>
<p>As state media broadcast unconfirmed reports of Assad remaining in Damascus, scenes of defiance across the nation painted a starkly different picture. In Sednaya, a notorious military prison outside the capital, rebels reportedly released scores of detainees, declaring an end to "the era of injustice."</p>
<p>The rapid unravelling of Assad&rsquo;s regime underscores the fragility of authoritarian rule in the face of mounting opposition. For many Syrians, the fall of Homs signals not just a tactical victory but a transformative moment of hope in their struggle for freedom.</p>
<p>While the future remains uncertain, Sunday&rsquo;s events may well mark the twilight of Assad&rsquo;s reign over Syria.</p>
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Syrian Rebels on the street of Homs, citizens celebrating fall of Assad Regime, citizen fleeing from Damascus

Rebels gain ground, Assad's rule teeters; unrest sweeps Syria

Assad Flees Damascus as Rebels Seize Homs, Eye Capital

Rebels gain ground, Assad's rule teeters; unrest sweeps Syria

December 8, 2024 | 10:03 IST