Syrian rebels declare new era after toppling Assad regime

On Sunday, Abu Muhamad al-Jolani, the leader of the Syrian rebels, announced that his forces, which captured Damascus and overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime, do not intend to withdraw. "The future is ours," he noted in his speech broadcast on Syrian television.

Jolani, leading the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), emphasized that the rebels will continue on the path started during the Arab Spring in 2011.

The term Arab Spring refers to a series of social uprisings in Arab countries in 2011. In Syria, protests against Assad's authoritarian rule erupted, leading to a civil war between the government and fragmented rebel factions. Other countries also engaged in the conflict. More than half a million people were killed.

Most fighting ceased in 2020. Assad managed to regain control over most of the country, largely thanks to support from Iran and Russia. A week and a half ago, rebels launched an offensive against the government, and within a few days captured the country's major cities.

Since Saturday evening, Assad's fate remains unknown. According to media reports, he left Damascus on a plane in an unknown direction. There were speculations that the aircraft was shot down or crashed.

Russia's Foreign Ministry stated on Sunday that Assad has left the presidency and Syria and ordered the "peaceful power transfer."