Syrian rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have captured the capital city of Damascus and toppled President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The rebel military operations command for HTS claimed on Sunday that the president was no longer in the capital, declaring it “free of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad.”
After a 10-day lightning-fast offensive, rebel forces took control of four cities: Homs, Daraa, Queinetra, and Sweida. The collapse of Assad’s government marks the end of a 24-year reign by the president, who succeeded his father in 2000.
Assad’s regime has been marred by a brutal civil war since 2011, with security forces seeking to crush mass protests demanding democratic reforms. HTS, which has roots in al-Qaeda and is considered a terrorist organization by the US, claimed credit for the takeover and is led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
The future of Syria under rebel control remains uncertain. Experts say HTS may aim to govern with a more moderate ideology, similar to that of the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, it’s unclear how they will seek to implement their vision for the country.
Russia confirmed Assad’s departure from the country, while Turkish-backed Syrian militias known as the Syrian National Army also participated in the rebel offensive. The collapse of Assad’s regime marks a significant shift in the ongoing conflict.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/who-are-syrian-rebels-hts/story?id=116571007