Chicago December 08, 2024
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled Syria after rebel forces stormed the capital, Damascus, according to Reuters. Assad, who led Syria for over 20 years, was trained as an eye doctor in the UK before taking power from his father. He left the country with his wife, Asma, and their three children. It is currently unknown where they are heading.
Syrian state TV broadcast a message from a group of men saying Assad had been overthrown and that all prisoners were set free. Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali confirmed that the government lost contact with Assad on Saturday night and did not know his whereabouts.
The flight of Assad marks a significant moment in the Syrian civil war, which has lasted nearly 14 years. The conflict began in 2011 when Assad used violence to crush pro-democracy protests. Over 500,000 people have died in the war, and many others have been displaced. Assad’s use of chemical weapons on civilians in 2013 drew international outrage, though no military action was taken at the time.
Rebel groups, including the Islamist group HTS, have now gained control of major Syrian cities such as Aleppo, Homs, and Hamas. The fall of Assad’s regime comes after years of support from Russia and Iran, but with both countries now facing challenges elsewhere, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and tensions with Israel.
