Syria has entered a new chapter in its history, as the 24-year rule of President Bashar al-Assad has come to an abrupt end. In a shocking turn of events, rebel forces launched an offensive on November 27, 2024, that saw rapid gains across the country. Over the course of just 12 days, the rebels succeeded in toppling Assad’s regime, which had been in power for over five decades, beginning with his father Hafez al-Assad. The swift and unexpected campaign left both the Assad government and the international community in disbelief.

The rebellion began on November 27, when insurgents targeted the city of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest urban center. By December 1, rebel groups had seized control of almost all parts of the city, leaving only areas under Kurdish control. On December 5, the insurgents took control of Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city, and by December 7, they had surrounded the capital, Damascus. By the early hours of December 8, rebels declared victory in Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, and announced they had entered Damascus. President Bashar al-Assad, facing an unstoppable advance, fled the capital in a private plane, though his whereabouts remain unknown.

In just over a week, Assad’s long reign was over, and the capital was fully under rebel control. The Syrian Army, once loyal to Assad, officially declared his downfall on Sunday, December 8, acknowledging the regime’s collapse. Rebel factions also confirmed that Damascus is now "Assad-free."

After more than a decade of civil war, the dictator's regime, backed by powerful allies like Russia and Iran, had managed to hold power. However, in the final moments, those allies were absent, and their support for Assad seemed insufficient to prevent his fall.

News of Assad’s flight was met with celebrations on the streets of Damascus, with people rejoicing at the end of his brutal rule. Rebel groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), declared that the regime's downfall marked the beginning of a new era for Syria, one free from oppression and war.

In a statement, the rebels proclaimed: "After 50 years of Ba'athist oppression, 13 years of crime, torture, displacement, and long struggles against all forms of occupation, we declare today, December 8, 2024, the end of that dark era and the beginning of a new era for Syria."

With the fall of Assad’s regime, the rebels announced that the newly liberated country would be a place of peaceful coexistence, where justice would prevail and the dignity of all Syrians would be upheld. They pledged to ensure fairness and protection for all civilians, including those who had been loyal to the previous regime.

Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, issued orders for rebel fighters to treat surrendering individuals and civilians with respect and care. This directive comes as part of the group’s effort to establish a more humane and just order following the regime’s collapse.

As Syria moves into this new era, questions remain about the future of the country and the region. The fall of Assad’s regime marks the end of a brutal chapter in Syria’s history, but the challenges of rebuilding a nation torn apart by years of civil war and foreign intervention are just beginning.