The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left office and departed the country following negotiations with other participants in the “armed conflict” and gave orders for a peaceful handover of power. After taking control of Damascus, Syria’s rebel forces on Sunday imposed a curfew in the city starting at 4 pm local time until 5 am. Syrian rebels in their first announcement on state television stated that they have “freed Damascus” and overthrown Assad’s regime while freeing all jailed prisoners.
What’s the current status of the war? With a move on Damascus, the rebels are aiming to deal a severe blow to the Assad government as it now controls only 3 of the 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia, and Tartus. The Syrian army stated that it was continuing operations against “terrorist groups” in the key cities of Hama and Homs and in Deraa countryside, as reported by Reuters. Meanwhile, Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Similarly, Jordan also closed a border crossing with Syria.
How did the crisis start? Rebel forces had been kept at bay for more than a decade with Iranian and Russian military support. However, Al-Assad faced a surprise offensive launched from the country’s northwest. His government rapidly ceded territory, without much military defence or help of one of the country’s strongest allies, Iran, which began to evacuate its military commanders and personnel from Syria on Friday.
The Syrian opposition coalition on Sunday said it is working towards forming a transitional governing body with full executive powers, adding in a post on X that it aspires to build strategic partnerships within the region and the world.
(Reuters)
Groups of Syrians strolled through the palaces of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday following his ouster, wandering from room to room, posing for photographs, and with some taking items of furniture or ornaments.
A video showed people entering the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, as children ran through the grand rooms and men slid a large trunk across the ornate floor, news agency Reuters reported.
Several men carried smart chairs over their shoulders. In a storeroom, cupboards had been ransacked and objects strewn across the floor. Video of another palace, the Muhajreen Palace, verified by Reuters, showed groups of men and women walking across a white marble floor and through tall wooden doors. A man carried a vase in his hand, and a large cabinet stood empty with its doors ajar.
A Syrian opposition fighter sits inside an office at the Presidential Palace after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus (AP Photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment