New York: Rebel forces in Syria claim that the country is ‘free’ and President Bashar al-Assad has fled the city, CNN reported.
The reports on Sunday suggested rebel forces entered the capital Damascus and have taken control of the notorious Saydnaya Military Prison north of the city.
The development comes after the rebel force’s week-long offensive, and there is no sign of government forces in the city, Reuters reported.
President Bashar al-Assad is reported to have fled the city after his grip on the country began to fail.
Syrian army officials told Reuters that he headed to an unknown destination.
Though no official confirmation has not been made yet, it is reported that Syria's army command informed officers that the Assad regime has fallen.
"The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled. We declare Damascus free of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad," Al Jazeera quoted rebels proclaiming.
In a statement on Sunday, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel faction declared that ‘we announce today, 12-8-2024, the end of this dark era and the beginning of a new era for Syria’.
Meanwhile, the UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Syrian military and security forces have withdrawn from Damascus International Airport following rebel attack.
Visuals emerging from the country showed rebels rushing to the state capital in cars suggesting the capture of the city.
The situation has triggered panic among the residents as gunfire rang out just as loyalists of the regime scampering to flee the place.
Those supporting the rebels came out to the public squares to celebrate the moment and mosques reportedly announced the fall of the regime.
The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the rebels in the past week creating the largest of the similar movements in recent years in the country.
The group which the US and the United Nations considered as terrorist organization has its origins in Al-Quaeda, according to India Today.