In celebration of President Bashar al-Assad’s downfall, the capital of Syria awoke Sunday to gunshots, cheers, and chanting as rebels claimed to have stormed the city and overthrown the longtime leader.
With the city mired in uncertainty just hours after the rebels took control, some mosques blasted religious chanting, often reserved for celebratory occasions during the dawn call to prayer, while simultaneously advising citizens to stay at home.
Since November 27, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its allies have launched a fierce offensive that has seized large areas of the nation from the government, including the capital Damascus early on Sunday and the important cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, stated that war monitor Assad had “fled” after rebel forces declared on state television that they had overthrown the “tyrant.”
According to an AFP film, scores of Damascenes were rejoicing from a shopping center’s park while standing on a damaged statue of Assad’s father Hafez that they had demolished and shouting “Allahu akbar,” which means “God is greatest.”
“Syria is ours and not the Assad family’s,” the gunmen shouted as they dispersed across a few streets of Damascus, firing into the air.
Reactions to the Syrian events are listed below.
I’ve been waiting a while for this.
Amer Batha, a sobbing citizen of Damascus, told AFP over the phone from Ummayad Square in the capital, where witnesses reported scores of people had gathered to rejoice, “I can’t believe I’m living this moment.”
After 13 years of grueling civil conflict, rebels and a war monitor announced the end of decades of Assad family power. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this day,” Batha said.
“We are beginning a new chapter in Syria’s history,” Batha continued.
Some women threw rice at passing fighters who were shooting into the air as they ululated from balconies in the Shaghur neighborhood.
50-year-old Ilham Basatina expressed her amazement at not having to “be afraid” “after today.”
Speaking of Assad, she remarked from her balcony, “There is a great deal of happiness today, and it won’t be complete until the criminal has been held to account.”
“Syrian media and media workers are not guilty,” commented Waddah Abd Rabbo, editor-in-chief of the pro-government online daily Al-Watan, on social media. All we were doing was posting the news they supplied us and following their orders.
Only state media or publications connected to the government were allowed to function under the strict control of Assad’s Baath party, which severely restricted liberties, including the freedom of the press.
On Facebook, well-known Syrian actor Ayman Zeidan, who had previously refrained from openly criticizing the Assad regime, wrote, “How delusional I was.” Maybe we feared change because we thought it would result in chaos and bloodshed, or perhaps we were captives of a culture of fear.
We are now embarking on a new era with persons who impressed us with their dignity… and their commitment to bring the Syrian people back together, he continued.
US President Joe Biden
The White House said in a statement that President Biden and his team are keeping a close eye on the unusual developments in Syria and are in continuous communication with their regional partners.
Trump, the US president-elect
“Assad is no longer there. He left his nation. Trump wrote on X, “Russia, Russia, Russia, under Vladimir Putin, was no longer interested in safeguarding him.
“As a result of Israel’s military victories and Ukraine’s poor economy, Russia and Iran are currently in a weaker position.”
Russian Foreign Ministry
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Assad ordered a peaceful transfer of power to the rebels and then left government and left the country.
The ministry claimed in a statement that Russia had not participated in the negotiations on Assad’s departure, although it did not specify where he was at the moment. It further stated that although Russia’s military installations in Syria were placed on high alert, they were not now under any real danger.
The ministry called on all sides to abstain from violence and said Moscow was in contact with all Syrian opposition factions.
Geir Pedersen, the United Nations envoy for Syria, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Doha earlier on Saturday. According to a Sunday report by the news agency Interfax, they talked about possible steps to stabilize the situation in Syria.
Antonio Tajani, the Italian Foreign Minister
“I am paying close attention to how the situation in Syria is developing with concern. I keep in close communication with the Prime Minister’s office and our embassy in Damascus. Tajani posted on X, “I have scheduled an urgent meeting at the Foreign Ministry for 10:30.”
Syria’s UN special envoy Pedersen, Geir
Syria’s Special Envoy According to a statement, Geir Pedersen emphasizes the obvious want of millions of Syrians for inclusive and stable transitional procedures to be established.
As they work to reconstruct their society, he urged all Syrians to put communication, solidarity, and adherence to human rights and international humanitarian law first. He also stated that he is prepared to assist the Syrian people in their quest for a secure and inclusive future.
Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister
According to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, any new Syrian government must not pose a threat to its neighbors.
In order to “reassure the regional countries that the new administration and new Syria will not pose a threat for its neighbors; on the contrary, the new Syria will address the existing problems and will eliminate the threats,” Fidan said Turkey had collaborated with Syrians as well as regional and international entities.
The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
To prevent more civilian losses and deaths, the Philippines urges all parties involved to exhibit restraint and abstain from additional acts of violence.
We are concerned about the plight of our Filipinos in Syria and urge them to take the appropriate safety measures and maintain communication with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.
A top UAE official warns of “impending chaos.”
After rebels declared they had taken over Damascus and declared the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, a senior official from the United Arab Emirates urged Syrians to work together to prevent chaos.
At the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated, “We hope that the Syrians will work together, that we don’t just see another episode of impending chaos.”
“This is ultimately just a footnote in history,” he told the event when participants asked, “Where is Bashar al-Assad going to?”
“I don’t believe it’s significant. When asked about it by reporters, the Emirati official added, “As I said, ultimately this is a footnote really to bigger events.”
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