Syrian rebels have declared the capital Damascus “free” after entering the city to scant resistance from regime forces, while claiming President Bashar al-Assad has fled the capital, losing his decades-long grip on power.
Footage shared on social media and verified by CNN showed people celebrating in Syria’s second-largest city Aleppo, as word spread of Assad fleeing Damascus.
Aleppo fell to the rebels just over a week ago, as they launched a surprise lightning offensive which has since swept several major cities.
The rebels earlier claimed to have entered the capital and taken control of the notorious Saydnaya Military Prison north of Damascus.
Observers said Homs was of huge strategic importance to the rebels, as its capture effectively split the Assad regime in two, severing the government in Damascus from the coast.
“Our operations are continuing to liberate the entire Damascus countryside, and our eyes are on the capital, Damascus.”.
Although the official line from the Syrian president’s office is that Assad has not fled, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN that Assad is nowhere to be found in Damascus. »
