Assad Reportedly Flees Damascus by Plane as Rebels Declare Capital Free

Dec 8, 2024, 02:26 AM

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly left Damascus for an unknown destination, according to sources cited by CNN and Reuters. CNN reported that Assad was nowhere to be found in the capital, with the Presidential Guard no longer stationed at his residence. Reuters later quoted two senior Syrian officers stating that Assad had boarded a plane and left Damascus. Meanwhile, rebel forces have reportedly entered the city unopposed, with residents reporting heavy gunfire. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a private plane departed Damascus, possibly carrying Assad. Rebels have declared Damascus free from Assad's rule, as there were no signs of army deployments in the capital. There has been no official confirmation from the Syrian government regarding Assad's whereabouts.