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The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad has fallen, bringing a stunning end to his family’s 50-year reign following a lightning offensive by Islamist rebels.
A plane carrying Assad left Damascus on Sunday morning as rebel fighters entered the capital, and two officials told Reuters he had fled the country.
The prime minister, Mohammed Ghazi Jalali, said he would meet with the rebels, adding that the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and hand over its functions to a transitional government.
The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the largest and best-organised of the rebel outfits, said on Telegram that Syria was “free” from the “tyrant” Assad.
There are celebrations in the centre of Damascus, with thousands gathering on foot in the main square of the capital and chanting “freedom”.
The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called on Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country is Mr Assad’s chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people”.
Trump says Russia abandoned Syria’s Assad and never should have been involved
US President-elect Donald Trump has said that Russia’s abandonment of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad led to his downfall, adding Moscow never should have protected him in the first place.
“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by (President) Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place,” Trump wrote. “They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine … a war that should never have started, and could go on forever.”
Trump, who takes office on 20 January, added that Russia and Iran, Assad’s other main backer, “are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success”.
Russia says Syria’s Assad has left country and gave orders for peaceful power handover
The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had left office and departed the country after giving orders there be a peaceful handover of power.
In a statement, the ministry did not say where Assad was now and said Russia has not taken part in the talks around his departure.
“As a result of negotiations between B. Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power.
“Russia did not participate in these negotiations,” the ministry said.
Moscow was extremely worried by events in Syria and urged all sides to refrain from violence, it said.
“We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means,” the statement said.
“In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition.”
Pictured: Syrians celebrate as Assad government toppled
Shadow minister Priti Patel warns of ‘anxiety’ around unfolding Syria crisis
Tory shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel has warned that the situation in Syria could take a turn for the worse with one of the organisations behind Assad’s fall proscribed as terrorists by the UK.
Dame Priti spoke to Sky News’ Sir Trevor Phillips from a security conference in Bahrain where she said delegates felt “anxiety” about the unfolding situation.
She said: “It is too early to know how this is going to pan out. Ultimately this is about the Syrian people.
“I think this is how we work together to influence the right kind of outcome, putting the Syrian people first.”
Dame Priti added: “There is a degree of anxiety across this region, full stop.”
She also warned that Assad’s legacy could still have ongoing negative consequences.
“There are wider questions about Assad’s regime, his weapons stocks and supplies.
We have a responsibility with our close friends and allies in this region on how we can take forward a peace plan.”
While she acknowledged that the Syrian rebels have NATO ally “Turkey’s footprint” on their actions she also warned that there is still “a longstanding issue of Iranian proxies in the region”.
Former MI6 chief says events in Syria will be a ‘surprise’ to UK Intelligence
Former head of MI6 Sir John Sawers has said the fall of the Assad regime in Syria will be a “surprise” to UK intelligence services.
He told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “I think it was a surprise to everyone, it probably came as a surprise to Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which have been the main rebel group involved in this march on Damascus, I don’t think they expected to go so far so fast.
“I think we’re all surprised at how the regime forces have just completely collapsed, even those most loyal to the regime and closest to the regime.
“So, yes, it is a surprise, it’s not a failure of intelligence, it’s a surprise to everyone.”
He added it would be “rather ridiculous” if the UK was unable to engage with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (HTS) in Syria.
Profile: How Bashar al-Assad went from London doctor to Syria’s monstrous dictator
As Syrian rebels bring an end to the Assad family’s 50-year reign in Syria, Donald Macintyre looks at the man behind 12 years of civil war and bloodshed
US will remain present in eastern Syria and take measures to prevent IS resurgence, pentagon official says
The United States will continue to maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro has said.
Speaking at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain’s capital, Mr Shapiro called on all parties to protect civilians, particularly minorities, and respect international norms.
Watch moment Syrian rebels shoot down statue of former President Assad
Watch moment Syrian rebels shoot down statue of former President Assad
This is the moment Syrian rebels shoot down the statue of former President Hafez al-Assad. It comes as the Syrian government of Hafez’s son Bashar has fallen, bringing a stunning end to his family’s 50-year reign following a lightning offensive by Islamist rebels. Social media footage shows protesters bringing down the statue of the president’s late father in a main square in a suburb a few miles from the centre of the capital on Saturday (7 December). A plane carrying Assad left Damascus on Sunday morning as rebel fighters entered the capital, and two officials told Reuters he had fled the country.
Iraq evacuates embassy in Syria and moves staff to Lebanon, says Iraqi state news agency
Iraq has evacuated its embassy in Syria and moved staff to Lebanon, the Iraqi state news agency reported.
The reasons behind the evacuation were not made public.
It comes as Syrian rebels stormed the Iranian embassy following their capture of Damascus, Iran’s English-language Press TV reported.
Syrian rebels say they have started attack on Kurdish forces in northern town of Manbij
Syrian rebels said they have started an attack on Kurdish-led forces in the northern Syrian town of Manbij, according to a statement posted on X by the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government.
Source: independent.co.uk
