On Telegram, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham announced that it had entered the Syrian capital, Damascus, a few hours after taking control of the city of Homs. For his part, President Bashar Al-Assad has reportedly fled the country. An event hailed by France.
“Our forces have begun to enter the capital, Damascus”. It is through this message posted this Sunday, December 8 on the social network Telegram that the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham announced its dazzling progress in the recapture of the main Syrian cities. “We declare the city of Damascus liberated from the tyrant Bashar Al-Assad”, adds HTC. A situation which pushes those in power to flee, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH).
The source confirmed the hypothesis to AFP, reports The World : “Assad left Syria via Damascus airport, before the withdrawal of members of the armed and security forces”. Earlier on Saturday, December 7, the Syrian presidency denied rumors of a flight by the president, arguing that the head of state was exercising his “functions” from Damascus. Furthermore, the Syrian army and security forces left Damascus international airport in the face of advancing rebel forces.
HTC also took control of Homs
Before Damascus, two other cities fell into rebel hands. The first is that of Homs. “We are living the last moments of the liberation of the city of Homs, (…) this historic event which will distinguish truth from lies”the militia leader said on Telegram. The rebels also took control of Qousseir, 30 kilometers southwest of Homs, reports the Qatari news channel Al-Jazeera. It is a strategic crossing point near the Lebanese border.
Finally, according to The Worldthe Saydnaya military prison, located north of Damascus and symbol of the repression of Al-Assad in Syria, was also liberated by the rebels. For HTC, “this is the moment that the displaced and prisoners have been waiting for for a long time, the moment of return home and the moment of freedom after decades of oppression and suffering.”
France salutes the “chute” of Bachar al-Assad
In a message published on X, Sunday December 8 at noon, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs “welcomed the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime (…) after more than 13 years of extremely violent repression against its own people. French diplomacy qualifies this day “historical for Syria and the Syrian people.
