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Fall of Damascus

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For other offensives, see Battle of Damascus.

On 7 December 2024, the Syrian opposition group known as the Southern Operations Room led forces that entered the Rif Dimashq region of Syria from the south, and those forces then came within 20 kilometres (12 mi) of the capital Damascus. The Syrian Arab Army withdrew from multiple points in the outskirts.[7] Concurrently with the advance towards Damascus, opposition militia Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army in the north launched an offensive into Homs,[8] while the Revolutionary Commando Army advanced into the capital from the southeast.[9][better source needed] By 8 December 2024, rebel forces entered the city's Barzeh neighborhood.[10] According to official state reports in Russian mass media and media footage, President Bashar al-Assad left Damascus by air to Moscow, where he has been granted asylum,[11] sealing the fall of his regime.

Fall of Damascus
Part of the 2024 southern offensive of the Syrian civil war
Northwestern Syria offensive (2024).jpg

Military advances in Syria towards Damascus
  Controlled by the Syrian Arab Republic
  Controlled by the Syrian opposition
  Controlled by the Israeli Army
Date7–8 December 2024 (1 day)
Location
Damascus and Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria
Status

Syrian opposition victory

Belligerents
Commanders and leaders
Ahmad al-Awda
Syrian opposition Salem Turki al-Antri
Ahmed al-Sharaa (final phase)[4]		 Syria Bashar al-Assad
Units involved

 Syrian Armed Forces

Military situation as of December 2024:
  Syrian transitional government[a] (various groups)
  Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (SDF)
  Syrian Interim Government (SNA) and Turkish occupation
  Russian occupation[b]
  Israeli occupation
  Islamic State

For a detailed map, see here.

Background

Main articles: 2024 Syrian opposition offensives and Syrian civil war

In late 2018, Syrian opposition rebel groups were forced into Idlib Governorate, the last rebel-held governorate of Syria after seven years of fighting against the Assad regime and Syrian Arab Army during the Syrian civil war, after the SAA captured the city of Aleppoand conducted peace deals with rebel groups in the southern Daraa Governorate.[12][13] Several rebel groups were present in Idlib, including Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which descended from the al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front; Hurras al-Din, al-Qaeda's branch in Syria after HTS disaffiliated, the Syrian National Army (SNA) backed by Turkey, and Islamic State sympathizers, along with other smaller rebel groups part of these coalitions.[14] American-backed Revolutionary Commando Army forces only controlled a small oilfield in Al-Tanf in eastern Syria.

Between the end of the ceasefire and the start of the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, autocratic HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani sought peace deals with the other rebel coalitions, and hunted down Hurras al-Din and Islamic State fighters in rebel-held areas.[15] Jolani also built institutions to digitize the rebel-held area, such as improving tax collecting, street cleaning, and food distrubution, while preaching a message of unity to Christians and Shi'as.[16][17]

In contrast, the Syrian state led by Assad put more money into funding the captagon industry, effectively running a drug cartel.[18] Corruption ran rife after 2018, and conscripts within the SAA grew demoralized as key allies in the early years of the war such as Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah were bogged down elsewhere.[19][20]

Prelude

In November 2024, after the rebel capture of Aleppo, reports emerged of a coup led by Syrian State Security Director General Hossam Louka against the Assad government. The Syrian Army General Command as well as the Iranian ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, both denied these reports.[21]

After the fall of Hama, the government began redeploying its troops from Eastern Ghouta, including Douma and Harasta, to its entrances and exits.[22]

Iran began withdrawing its personnel from Syria in the early hours of 6 December 2024, pulling out top commanders of the IRGC's Quds Force and ordering evacuations at the Iranian Embassy in Damascus and at IRGC bases across Syria. Evacuating Iranians headed towards Lebanon and Iraq.[23] China also actively assisted its citizens in leaving the country.[24]

By the beginning of 7 December 2024, rebels had captured most of Daraa Governorate and Suwayda Governorate and granted safe passage to some pro-government forces towards Damascus.[25][26]

Events

On 7 December 2024, Syrian rebels announced that they started surrounding Damascus after capturing nearby towns, with rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani stating: "Our forces have begun implementing the final phase of encircling the capital Damascus."[27] The rebels started encircling the capital after capturing Al-Sanamayn, a town 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the southern entrance of Damascus.[28]

In the Rif Dimashq region, pro-government forces withdrew from the towns of Assal al-Ward, Yabroud, Flitah, Al-Naseriyah and Artouz, while rebels came within 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of Damascus.[29] The Syrian government denied claims that its army had withdrawn from positions near the city.[30] By the evening, pro-government forces had left the towns on the outskirts of Damascus, including Jaramana, Qatana, Muadamiyat al-Sham, Darayya, Al-Kiswah, Al-Dumayr, Daraa and sites near the Mezzeh Air Base.[31]

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian rebels were active in the Damascus suburbs of Jaramana, Muadamiyah, and Darayya, and were marching from the east toward Harasta.[32] In the main square of Jaramana, protestors took down a statue of Hafez al-Assad.[33][34] In the evening, pro-government forces reportedly withdrew from several suburbs where large-scale protests broke out.[35]

As Southern Front forces advanced in the suburbs of Damascus, the Revolutionary Commando Army was reported closing in on the capital from the north, after taking control of Palmyra, as well as Darayya.[9][36]

According to The Guardian, videos showed Syrian police and army forces removing their uniforms in the streets of Damascus[26] and an Associated Press journalist reported seeing armed residents along the roads in Damascus's outskirts and finding the city's main police headquarters abandoned. Tank movements were reported in central squares of the capital, while calls of "God is great" rang out from mosques.[37]

During the night, rebels announced that a "group" of senior government officials and military officers in Damascus were preparing to defect to the opposition.[38] That same night, the Sednaya prison was captured and its inmates freed.[5] Pro-government Sham FM radio reported that Damascus airport had been evacuated and all flights halted.[37]

During the early hours of 8 December 2024 the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Syrian government forces were disbanding after being informed by superiors that the regime had fallen following the departure of a private flight from an airport in Damascus.[39] The capture of Homs that same morning by Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian National Army effectively cut Damascus off from al-Assad's coastal strongholds of Tartus and Latakia.[26]

By 8 December 2024, Damascus was captured by the rebels and Bashar al-Assad had fled. A group of opposition figures announced their victory over a Syrian state television broadcast. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali expressed his readiness to "extend its hand" to the opposition. The Syrian Army Command put two contradictory statements out: one of admission of defeat and a second to continue its fight against "terrorist groups", specifically in Homs, Hama and Daraa.[5]

Bashar al-Assad's whereabouts

On 7 December 2024, Syrian state media denied allegations that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad had fled Damascus.[40] He was reportedly not at any of the sites in Damascus where he had usually been present, and the presidential guard was not deployed at his usual residence. Rebel forces found no solid intelligence on al-Assad's location despite attempts to locate him.[41] Senior Syrian officers later shared reports that Assad had left Damascus on a plane,[42] which was later confirmed by Russia.[43]

On 8 December Russian state media reported that Assad and his family had fled to Moscow and been granted asylum by Russia.[44][45] A Kremlin spokesperson confirmed on 9 December that Russian president Vladimir Putin "had personally granted asylum to Assad."[46] The spokesperson refused to comment on the specific whereabouts of Assad, saying that Putin was not planning to meet him.[46]

Aftermath

In the wake of the rebel capture of Damascus, several places in the capital were ransacked, including Iran's embassy, Assad's estates, and government offices; the Central Bank of Syria was besieged[47] and the reception hall of the Presidential Palace was set on fire. Statues of Hafez Al Assad were toppled nationwide.[48] The Russian and Chinese embassies were untouched.[47][24] The rebels announced a 13-hour curfew in the capital amidst heavy armed rebel presence and traffic in the capital. Syrian State Television, now under rebel control, resumed broadcasting.[43]

Israel bombed the Mezzeh Air Base in Damascus, possibly to prevent weapons reaching Hezbollah.[49] Another strike targeted an alleged Iranian research center used for missile development in the Kafr Sousa district.[50] The Israeli army also crossed the border into Syria, seizing territory adjacent to the border after it was abandoned by the Syrian Arab Army.[51]

Mohammed al-Bashir, head of the Syrian Salvation Government, was appointed as new prime minister of the Syrian transitional government on 9 December.[52]

Reactions

Main article: Reactions to the Syrian opposition offensives (2024)
  •   Afghanistan: The Taliban government stipulated that the Assad regime was the "cause of war and instability" and congratulated Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham.[53]
  •   Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the fall of the Assad dictatorship "ends decades of brutal oppression" and said that Canada is monitoring the transition closely.[54]
  •   China: The Foreign Ministry stated that it "is closely following the development of the situation in Syria and hopes that Syria returns to stability as soon as possible" and urged all parties to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Syria.[24]
  •   European Union: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the end of Assad's rule a "positive and long-awaited development" and stated she was in close contact with regional ministers. She emphasized that rebuilding Syria would be "long and complicated".[55]
  •   France: President Emmanuel Macron commented on social media: "The barbaric state has fallen. At last. I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience." He added that France would remain committed to security in the Middle East.[55]
  •   Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the end of the Assad regime as "a big relief for millions of people in Syria" while warning that "the country must not fall into the hands of other radicals".[55]
  •   Indonesia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the Embassy of Indonesia in Damascus attacked by stray bullets from the Syrian Opposition Forces and causing minor damages to the building on 9 December 2024. No casualties and injured reported from the attack. The ministry asked Indonesian citizens in Syria to keep calm and avoid getting out of their residence.[56]
  •   Iran: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had successfully evacuated Embassy personnel.[57]
  •   Qatar: Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani criticized Assad for failing to use the previous lull in fighting to address Syria's underlying problems, stating: "Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people."[37]
  •   Russia: Following Russia's call for its citizens to leave Syria, the Russian Embassy reported that all its staff members were safe following the fall of Damascus.[58] Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that it was in contact with "all groups of the Syrian opposition", but played no role in negotiations.[43]
  •   United Kingdom: Prime minister Keir Starmer said: "The Syrian people have suffered under Assad's barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure. Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored".[59][60]
  •   United Nations: Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an "orderly political transition" and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254.[37]
  •   United States: The White House reported that "President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners".[61] In a televised speech addressed to Americans on 8 December 2024, U.S. president Joe Biden stated: "At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized, tortured, and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice".[62]

Notes

  1. ^ Unclear if the transitional government has recognition from all the opposition groups and to what capacity it functions
  2. ^ Tartus naval base, Khmeimim Air Base

References

  1. ^ "Assad Flees as Syrian Rebels Take Damascus: Live Updates". The Wall Street Journal. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Syrian rebels seize Damascus; Assad flees capital". NBC News. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left Damascus to an unknown destination". The Jerusalem Post. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Syrian rebels enter Damascus: everything we know so far". The Guardian. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Michaelson, Ruth. "Bashar al-Assad reported to have fled Syria as rebels say they have captured Damascus claim". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Syria's Praetorian Guards: A Primer". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (7). August 2000. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  7. ^ "10 km from the capital Damascus.. The regime is withdrawing rapidly in southern Syria and the factions are advancing" (in Arabic). SOHR. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Local factions break the first lines of defense of Homs city and attack the headquarters of the 26th Division and the College of Engineering near the city" (in Arabic). SOHR. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b "US-backed anti-regime groups began expanding to north and towards Damascus from southern Syria". Anadolu Agency. 7 December 2024.
  10. ^ Kourdi, Eyad; Edwards, Christian; Robertson, Nic; Schmitz, Avery (7 December 2024). "Syrian rebels appear to have entered Damascus as Assad regime's defenses crumble". CNN. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  11. ^ Chowdhury, Lucas Lilieholm, Eyad Kourdi, Raja Razek, Edward Szekeres, Simone McCarthy, Catherine Nicholls, Sophie Tanno, Maureen (8 December 2024). "Assad flees to Moscow as Syria rebels capture Damascus". CNN. Retrieved 8 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Khadder, Kareem (6 July 2018). "Russia, rebels reach interim ceasefire agreement in Syrian south". CNN. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Idlib: The Last Major Battle in the Syrian Civil War". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Syria: Who's in control of Idlib?". 7 September 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's Top-Down Disassociation from al-Qaeda in Syria". jamestown.org. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  16. ^ "How Syria's 'Diversity-Friendly' Jihadists Plan on Building a State | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  17. ^ "How Syria's Bashar al-Assad fell so quickly — and what the U.S. should do next". MSNBC.com. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  18. ^ Caesar, Ed (4 November 2024). "How Syria Became the Middle East's Drug Dealer". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  19. ^ Gebeily, Maya; al-Khalidi, Suleiman; Rasheed, Ahmed; Azhari, Timour (12 December 2024). "How Assad's army collapsed in Syria: demoralised conscripts, absent allies". Reuters. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  20. ^ Jalabi, Raya (11 December 2024). "The department of flags: Syrian rebels lay bare Assad's corrupt state". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 December 2024. {{cite news}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  21. ^ "Iranian ambassador denies coup rumours in Damascus". MSN News. 6 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Hope and suspense in East Ghouta as the regime loses ground". Syria Direct. 6 December 2024.
  23. ^ Abdulrahim, Raja (6 December 2024). "As Syrian Rebels Advance, Iran Grows Nervous and Neighbors Close Their Borders". The New York Times.
  24. ^ a b c "China reacts to Syria takeover, calls for 'return to stability as soon as possible'". First Post. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Anti-Assad rebels take most of southern Syrian region of Deraa, say reports". BBC. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Christou, William; Michaelson, Ruth (8 December 2024). "Syrian rebels say they have advanced into Damascus as residents report sound of gunfire". The Observer. London. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  27. ^ Abdulrahim, Raja (7 December 2024). "Syria's Government Battles Multiple Rebel Uprisings". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Syrian rebels say they control the south and are approaching Damascus". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Successive withdrawals from the Damascus countryside to secure the capital.. Reconciliation factions are a few kilometers away from the capital Damascus" (in Arabic). SOHR. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Syrian rebels say they have begun encirclement of Damascus". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  31. ^ "After the major withdrawal in the Damascus countryside and cities adjacent to the capital.. Regime forces redeploy in the capital Damascus" (in Arabic). SOHR. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  32. ^ Ambrose, Tom; Mackay, Hamish; Ambrose (now), Tom; Mackay (earlier), Hamish (7 December 2024). "Syrian rebels say they have reached Damascus in 'final stage' of offensive – Middle East crisis live". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  33. ^ "Syrian rebels close in on capital Damascus and enter key city Homs". BBC News. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  34. ^ Mohamed, Edna. "Syria's opposition fighters say they are closing in on capital Damascus". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  35. ^ Robertson, Nic (7 December 2024). "Syrian rebels edge closer to Damascus as US officials say Assad regime could fall soon: Live updates". CNN. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Revolution Forces Advance Toward Damascus as Assad Regime Crumbles". Levant24. 7 December 2024.
  37. ^ a b c d Mroue, Bassem; Karam, Zeina (7 December 2024). "War monitor says Assad fled Syria ahead of rebels entering the capital". Associated Press News.
  38. ^ "Senior Assad regime officials are preparing to defect in Damascus, Syrian rebels claim". CNN. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  39. ^ "Rebels say they are entering Syrian capital Damascus". BBC News. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  40. ^ "Syrian rebels close in on capital Damascus and enter key city Homs". BBC News. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  41. ^ Robertson, Nic (7 December 2024). "Syrian rebels edge closer to Damascus as US officials say Assad regime could fall soon: Live updates". CNN. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  42. ^ "Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left Damascus to an unknown destination, say two senior army officers". Reuters. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  43. ^ a b c "Syria rebels declare Damascus 'free,' claim Assad has fled the capital". CNN. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  44. ^ "Assad is in Moscow after fleeing Syria and will be given aslyum, Russian state media reports". BBC News. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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  46. ^ a b Beaumont, Peter (9 December 2024). "Israel, US and Turkey launch strikes to protect interests in Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  47. ^ a b "Opposition forces impose curfew in Syrian capital Damascus". bne IntelliNews. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  48. ^ "Syrian Rebels Set Reception Hall At Damascus Presidential Palace On Fire As al-Assad Family Rule Ends". abp live. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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  52. ^ "Mohammed al-Bashir appointed as Syria's prime minister after Assad's fall". ilkha.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  53. ^ Sirat, Siyar. "Taliban congratulate Syrian rebels, call for Islamic government in Syria". amu.tv. Amu TV. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
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  56. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber (9 December 2024). "Kemenlu: KBRI Damaskus Aman meski Terdampak Serangan". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
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  58. ^ "How Russia Is Reacting to the Downfall of Syria's Assad". The Moscow Times. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024. The Russian Embassy in Syria told the state-run TASS news agency that all its staff members were safe following the offensive
  59. ^ "PM statement on Syria". GOV.UK.
  60. ^ Baker, Tim (8 December 2024). "Sir Keir Starmer 'welcomes' Assad being deposed". Sky News. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  61. ^ "World reaction to end of Assad rule in Syria". Reuters. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  62. ^ Gabriel Hernandez, Michael (8 December 2024). "Biden says fall of Syrian regime 'a fundamental act of justice'". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024.
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