Syrian Rebels Declare End of Assad Family Rule as They Capture Damascus

The Syrian prime minister also spoke to the nation by video, addressing the opposition.

People celebrate with rebel fighters at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 8, 2024. Louai Beshara/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian insurgents, led by terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), announced on Dec. 8 that Damascus is “now free of Assad.”

“We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” a post on Telegram reads. “After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crime, tyranny and displacement ... we announce the end of this dark era and the beginning of a new era for Syria.”