Syrian Opposition Announces Bashar al-Assad’s Escape and Declares a New Era
The armed Syrian opposition factions announced that Bashar al-Assad, the head of the Syrian regime, has fled, confirming that Damascus is now “free.”
In an official statement released on Sunday morning, the factions declared: “After decades of oppression under the Baath Party’s rule, and 13 years of crimes, tyranny, and displacement, we announce today, December 8, 2024, the end of this dark era and the beginning of a new chapter for Syria.”
The opposition emphasized that the new Syria will be a homeland for all its citizens, where justice prevails and the dignity of every individual is preserved. They affirmed closing the chapter of the past and looking forward to a brighter future.
The announcement followed a video published by Mohammed Ghazi Al-Jalali, the head of Assad’s government, on his official Facebook page. In the video, he confirmed that he remained at his residence and called on Syrians to work towards a united country, saying: “Syria will belong to all its citizens, a country that seeks good relations with neighbors and the world without entering into regional alliances.”
He added: “We will ensure an organized transfer of governmental files in a way that preserves the state institutions whenever the people choose their new leadership.”
Bashar al-Assad is a significant name in Syria’s history and the region, but one associated with decisions that turned Syria into ruins and forced millions into displacement and exile.
Over the years, Assad’s crimes against Syrians were documented, including the use of various weapons, such as chemical weapons, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Although he felt secure at the beginning of 2024, the balance quickly shifted within just one week, marking the end of Assad’s era while Syria endured.
The announcement of the regime’s fall came after opposition factions seized control of most areas surrounding Damascus. This development followed the opposition’s capture of the central city of Homs.
