Syrian Rebels Declare Damascus ‘Liberated’ In First Televised Address, Army Says Fight Continues
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Bashar Al-Assad fled the country on Sunday as rebels fought their way into Damascus after days of fighting and capturing other major cities.
Syrian civil war (AP Image)
Syrian Civil War: The Syrian rebels announced on Sunday that the capital city, Damascus, had been “liberated” and President Bashar al-Assad had been toppled, delivering their first statement to the nation on state TV.
“The city of Damascus has been liberated,” a man dressed in civilian clothes said.
“The tyrant Bashar al Assad has been toppled,” he said, adding that the rebels have freed the prisoners from the prison of Damascus.
“We wish all our fighters and citizens preserve and maintain the property of the state of Syria. Long live Syria,” the rebels said.
Syrians Celebrate Assad’s Ouster
The people of the country took to the streets to celebrate hours after Assad fled the country. They took down the statues of the Assad family all across the country as dramatic scenes unfolded from parts of the country.
However, the Syrian army said that its forces are continuing their operations in the countryside of Hama, Homs, and Deraa. The military has yet not commented on the takeover of Damascus by the rebels. It has also made no remarks on Assad’s ouster from the country.
US-Backed Force Calls Assad’s Ouster ‘Historic Moment’
General Commander of the Kurdish-led and US-backed force Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi said that Syria is undergoing the fall of an authoritarian regime and termed the day as a “historic moment”.
“This change is an opportunity to build a new Syria based on democracy and justice that guarantees the rights of all Syrians,” the commander said.
- Location :
Damascus, Syria
