Syria's Bashar al-Assad Steps Down After Rebels Storm Damascus
Bashar al-Assad resigns and flees Syria, ending nearly 14 years of rule. Rebels storm Damascus, and citizens celebrate the fall of his regime. The future of Syria remains uncertain as Assad's whereabouts remain unknown.
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Russia Claims Assad Resigns, Leaves Syria Following Peaceful Transfer of Power
In a dramatic turn of events, Russia's foreign ministry announced on Sunday that Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, has resigned after nearly 14 years in power. The resignation follows a series of talks between Assad and several conflict participants. The Russian government claims that Assad has left Syria for an undisclosed location, instructing his administration to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. However, Moscow clarified that it did not participate in these discussions.
The Syrian leader's sudden departure comes amid reports of rebels advancing through Damascus with no apparent military response, suggesting Assad's government had collapsed. Assad’s whereabouts, along with those of his wife Asma and their children, remain unknown.
Celebrations Erupt in Syria as Assad's Rule Comes to an End
Syria erupted in jubilation as news spread of Bashar al-Assad's resignation. In Damascus, citizens toppled statues of Assad’s late father, Hafez al-Assad, signaling the end of a decades-long authoritarian rule. Across the country, particularly in Aleppo and Daraa—the latter being the birthplace of the 2011 uprising—crowds celebrated by destroying portraits and monuments of the Assad family. These symbolic acts reflect the deep-rooted opposition to the Assad regime, which had been marked by heavy repression and a brutal crackdown on peaceful protests.
Statues of Assad Family Members Toppled Across the Country
In the midst of the unrest, statues of Bashar al-Assad’s family members were torn down in multiple cities. In Aleppo, statues of Bashar’s brother Bassel, as well as their father Hafez, were destroyed. Daraa, the origin of Syria’s 2011 uprising, witnessed similar scenes, with a rebel fighter photographed dragging a statue of Hafez al-Assad behind a motorcycle.
In Damascus, mobs stormed several palaces belonging to the Assad family, looting furniture, artwork, and ornaments. The Al-Rawda and Muhajreen Presidential Palaces were among the sites ransacked by Syrians who had long suffered under the Assad regime.
The Assad Family Legacy: From Hafez to Bashar
Bashar al-Assad inherited the presidency from his father, Hafez, who came to power through a military coup in 1970. Hafez’s rule was marked by strict control and the suppression of dissent, with his image and statues still visible across Syria. Bashar continued his father’s legacy when he took office in 2000, maintaining the authoritarian policies that crushed the 2011 peaceful protests, leading to a prolonged civil war.
Now, with the end of Assad’s rule, Syria faces an uncertain future. The country is left to rebuild after years of destruction, with a new power structure yet to emerge.
Source : HT
-ITS News Desk.
