Anti-government fighters stand on portraits of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad (R). Photo: AFP
After nearly two weeks of intense combat, rebels in Syria have seized control of four pivotal cities and entered Damascus without encountering any significant army presence. On Sunday, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad departed Damascus for an undisclosed location, according to two high-ranking army officers who spoke to Reuters. Hadi al-Bahra, the leader of Syria's primary opposition group abroad, declared on Sunday that Damascus is now "without Bashar Al Assad."
Here are the latest updates on the Syrian conflict:
7.45am: Assad's rule has concluded. Syria's army command has informed officers that President Bashar Al Assad's reign has ended following a swift rebel assault, a Syrian officer privy to the communication told Reuters. Syrian rebels proclaimed that Damascus is "now free of Assad."
7.42am: Public institutions to remain under the oversight of the 'former PM'. Syrian rebel leader Ahmed Al Sharaa stated that approaching public institutions is prohibited, as they will remain under the supervision of the "former prime minister" until an official handover occurs.
7.36am: 'New era' in Syria. Syria's rebels announced the start of a 'new era' in Syria, following 50 years of Baath rule, and urged Syrians abroad to return to their 'free Syria' after declaring that the 'tyrant' Bashar al-Assad has 'fled'.
7.30am: Syrian PM ready to support. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al Jalali affirmed on Sunday that he remains at his residence and is prepared to support the continuity of governance, following President Bashar al-Assad's departure from Damascus as rebels entered the capital.
7am: Assad left the country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported on Sunday that President Bashar Al Assad had exited the country, after losing substantial territory to a swift rebel offensive. Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman confirmed that "Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces vacated" the facility.
6.56am: Syria rebels announce entering Damascus. Gunfire erupted in the Syrian capital on Sunday, as residents informed AFP that rebels were "entering Damascus" in a rapid offensive against President Bashar Al Assad's forces. A source close to Hezbollah revealed to AFP that fighters from the key Assad ally had abandoned their positions around Damascus, as a war monitor reported the army and security forces had deserted the capital's international airport. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group announced that its forces were advancing into the capital, shortly before declaring an "end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya" as they breached the jail, notorious for the regime's darkest abuses.
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