A brazen nighttime prison release and a rapid advance by a rebel army have brought an end to Bashar al-Assad’s grip on Syria’s capital, Damascus. Footage captured on social media shows the swift takeover of key locations, including Sednaya prison and Umayyad Square.
The fall of Damascus was marked by scenes of joy and disbelief as dozens of prisoners were released from the notorious government complex. Videos also showed residents streaming into the square to celebrate, with some even climbing on top of a tank.
As news spread that the rebels had arrived in the capital, many speculated that President al-Assad had fled the country. The crowds later stomped on burning images of the president and tried to topple a statue of his father, Hafez al-Assad. Despite unsuccessful attempts, they left a trash can on top of the statue.
By Sunday afternoon, videos showed the rebel leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani entering the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, where he was greeted by masked security guards and enthusiastic crowds. In a statement, Mr. al-Jolani described the takeover as a victory for the entire nation, saying “The future is ours.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/world/middleeast/syria-damascus-rebels-assad-video.html