by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Syria’s 50-year Assad dynasty abruptly ended this weekend when a lightning 10-day rebel offensive overran government-held territory and seized Damascus with little resistance. Bashar al-Assad, who ruled for nearly 25 years, fled by plane to an unknown destination as rebels took the capital.
Witnesses reported that thousands poured into the city’s main square, waving flags and chanting “freedom” as rebels broke through the city gates on Sunday and Assad’s forces fled the streets.
Rebel seized control of state media offices in Damascus “to broadcast the victory announcement over Assad,” featuring men declaring that President Bashar al-Assad had been overthrown and all detainees set free.
The man delivering the statement said the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, an opposition group, urged all opposition fighters and citizens to safeguard the institutions of “the free Syrian state.”
“We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” the rebels said.
Damascus’s fall followed the swift capture of Homs, a strategic crossroads linking the capital to coastal government strongholds, which rebels seized late Saturday in under 24 hours of combat.
After government troops fled the city, thousands of residents filled the streets, dancing and chanting, “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad.”
Once Homs fell under rebel control, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), declared that the rebels were ready to seize the entire country, promising “the end of the criminal regime is near.”
The regime’s sudden collapse reshaped the Middle East, ending the Assad family’s decades-long rule and delivering a sharp blow to Russia and Iran, who have now lost a key regional ally.
In one suburb, a statue of Hafez al-Assad was brought down and destroyed, while rebels secured control over the entire southwest within 24 hours.
The rebel factions posted on Telegram, “After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and (forced) displacement… we announce today the end of this dark period and the start of a new era for Syria.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday formally rejected a U.S.-backed 15-point plan for Gaza, declaring that Israeli forces will not withdraw from territory in the Strip until Hamas undergoes what he called complete and genuine disarmament.
Australian aviation authorities launched an investigation Sunday after a Jetstar passenger plane and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 narrowly avoided colliding at Sydney Airport, injuring a cabin crew member in the second near-miss at the airport within two weeks, amid mounting concerns about air traffic control staffing and safety.
Europe’s record-breaking heatwaves are exposing vulnerabilities in electricity systems increasingly dependent on weather-driven renewable energy as part of the European Union’s green agenda.
Two Christians, including a young man and a father of four, have been killed in separate attacks in Pakistan, highlighting growing concern about violence and discrimination facing the Christian minority in the Islamic nation, well-informed sources told Worthy News on Sunday.
Lake Mead has fallen to its lowest level since the massive reservoir was filled nearly 90 years ago, underscoring the growing strain on the Colorado River system that supplies water and electricity across much of the American West.
Two former NBA players are seeking to put the transgender-athlete debate to a real-world test, declaring their intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft as questions intensify over who should be eligible to compete in women’s professional basketball.
After days of drawn-out negotiations, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a short-term government funding stopgap early Saturday morning.