23:40 Israel conducted airstrikes on 100 targets in Syria on Wednesday, Israeli Army Radio reported. The strikes reportedly focused on weapons depots, though details regarding specific locations and the extent of the damage were not immediately available.
Ground correspondents from various news agencies reported Israeli strikes throughout the day, some of which hit critical infrastructure, including airports.
The escalation follows comments from Israel's military chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, who announced that Israel is now engaged on "four fronts" after initiating new operations in Syria and seizing positions on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights.
23:15 Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, stated on Sunday that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "never asked" Tehran for aid against the rebels who captured Damascus in a swift offensive.
"We were never asked for help," Araghchi said during a live interview on state television, emphasising that countering the offensive was the duty of the Syrian army. Assad was toppled on Sunday after a lightning advance by rebel forces.
Iran had supported Assad during Syria’s prolonged civil war, providing military advisers and backing from Tehran-aligned Hezbollah fighters who fought alongside Syrian government forces.
23:00 At least 26 combatants were killed Sunday as Turkish-backed Syrian fighters launched an offensive on the northern Manbij area, days after seizing a Kurdish-held enclave, according to AFP.
The pro-Turkey fighters had already retaken the Kurdish-held Tal Rifaat enclave last week, days after rebels swooped into government-held areas, snatching key cities before reaching Damascus on Sunday.
"Pro-Turkish factions... seized large districts of Manbij city in the eastern Aleppo countryside, after violent clashes with the Manbij Military Council," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said.
The Council is affiliated with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that act as a de facto army for the Kurdish administration that controls swathes of Syria's northeast.
"The clashes killed nine pro-Turkish fighters and at least 17 Manbij Military Council" combattants, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria.
The US-backed SDF also reported "fierce clashes", saying the military councils in Manbij and in Al-Bab were "dealing qualitative blows" to Turkish-backed fighters.
The Ankara-backed factions said they had "taken control of the city of Manbij in the eastern countryside of Aleppo after fierce battles", in a statement on their Telegram channel.
The groups posted videos of the fighters declaring control over Manbij, said to be from inside the area.
AFP could not independently verify the videos.
Earlier Sunday, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi hailed "historic" moments with the fall of the "authoritarian regime" of President Bashar al-Assad.
22:00 US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted dozens of precision airstrikes targeting known ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria, Dec. 8.
The strikes against the ISIS leaders, operatives, and camps were conducted as part of the ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS, in order to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria.
The operation struck over 75 targets using multiple U.S. Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s.
Battle damage assessments are underway, and there are no indications of civilian casualties.
CENTCOM, together with allies and partners in the region, will continue to carry out operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria.
"There should be no doubt - we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," said General Michael Erik Kurilla, "All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way."
21:30 Syrian rebels who toppled president Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive have "guaranteed the security" of Russian army bases in the country, a Kremlin source told Russian news agencies Sunday.
"Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed the security of Russian army bases and diplomatic institutions on Syria's territory," the source told state-owned agencies TASS and Ria Novosti.
21:00 US President Joe Biden on Sunday said deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country.
In the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden expressed optimism. However, he also warned that Washington would "remain vigilant" against the emergence of terrorist groups.
"The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said, speaking from the White House. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria."
Asked by reporters what should happen to the deposed president, who reportedly has fled to Moscow, Biden said that "Assad should be held accountable."
Biden, who is set to step down in January and make way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power, said Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding.
"We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign" Syria "with a new constitution," he said.
However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be under scrutiny.
"Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses," Biden said.
The United States had "taken note" of recent statements by rebels suggesting they had since moderated, he said, but cautioned: "We will assess not just their words, but their actions."
Biden said Washington is "clear eyed" that the Islamic State extremist group, often known as ISIS, "will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish" itself in Syria.
"We will not let that happen," he said, adding that on Sunday alone, US forces had conducted "a dozen" strikes against ISIS inside Syria.
20:00 Russian state television reported that President Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia on humanitarian grounds. The Kremlin confirmed the development, stating that Assad and his family are currently in Moscow.
The announcement follows mounting speculation over the Syrian president's whereabouts after rebel forces captured Damascus earlier in the day.
19:30 Saudi Arabia called on Sunday for efforts to prevent Syria from falling into disarray after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by rebels.
"The kingdom affirms its support for the brotherly Syrian people and their choice," while appealing for "concerted efforts to preserve the unity of Syria and the cohesion of its people, so as to prevent it falling into chaos and division," the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
19:00 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday the EU would help to rebuild a Syria that safeguards minorities after the dramatic fall of Bashar al-Assad.
"Europe is ready to support safeguarding national unity and rebuilding a Syrian state that protects all minorities," she said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
"The cruel Assad dictatorship has collapsed. This historic change in the region offers opportunities but is not without risks," added the commission president.
She said the bloc was in touch with key leaders in Europe and the region and was monitoring the fast-moving developments.
18:25 Israel's military imposed a curfew for residents of five Syrian towns in a demilitarised buffer zone of the Golan Heights which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to seize.
"For your security, you must stay at home and not go out until further notice," Lieutenant Colonel Avichay Adraee, an Israeli army spokesman, said on X, after Netanyahu's order earlier Sunday for the military to seize the zone, which abuts the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, after the fall of Syria's president.
18:15 US President Joe Biden will meet Sunday with his national security advisors over Syria, where rebels declared they had taken Damascus and ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
"The President will meet with his national security team this morning to receive an update on the situation in Syria," National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett posted on X.
18:00 Syrian militant forces have reportedly taken control of the city of Jableh in Latakia, located near Russia's Hmeimim Air Base, according to Russian military sources cited by Al Jazeera.
Jableh, a coastal city, is a key area in the Syrian government's stronghold in the Latakia governorate. Its proximity to the Hmeimim base, which serves as Russia's primary hub for military operations in Syria.
17:00 A monitor of Syria's war said Israeli strikes targeted government security buildings in Damascus on Sunday, as an AFP correspondent reported the strikes and subsequent fire, hours after rebels overran the capital.
"Israeli strikes targeted a security complex in Damascus near the former regime's buildings" including intelligence, customs and a military headquarters, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. An AFP photographer saw buildings ablaze in the security complex, which includes military intelligence.
Israeli politician Benny Gantz talks to reporters as he visits an area across from Syrian territories in the Israel-annexed Golan heights. AFP
15:55 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed credit for starting the chain of events that led to the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Israeli media reported.
“This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the occupied Golan Heights on the border with Syria.
“This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime,” Netanyahu claimed.
“This has created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime,” he added.
Netanyahu warned that alongside new opportunities, the departure of Assad from Syria also brings risks.
“We are acting first and foremost to protect our border,” he said “This area has been controlled for nearly 50 years by a buffer zone agreed upon in 1974, the Separation of Forces Agreement. This agreement has collapsed, and the Syrian soldiers have abandoned their positions.”
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the army to seize the buffer zone Saturday,
Meanwhile, Israeli Army Radio quoted a military source confirming that the army had taken control of a military site in Jabal El Sheikh in Syria, following the retreat of Syrian army soldiers.
It added that Israel is preparing for several days of continued strikes in Syria allegedly to prevent strategic weapons from reaching armed factions.
Israeli tanks take position on the border with Syria near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights.
15:36 The commander of the armed groups in Syria, Ahmed al-Jolani, arrives in Damascus.
Identifying him by his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, a statement on Telegram said he had "knelt down prostrating to God in thanks" on the ground after arriving in the Syrian capital.
A video showed him kneeling in a field and bringing his head to the ground.
15:23 Egypt called for all Syrian parties, regardless of their orientations, to prioritize the nation's supreme interest by unifying objectives and priorities.
This, Cairo urged, would pave the way for a comprehensive and inclusive political process aimed at fostering internal harmony, peace, and the restoration of Syria's regional and international role.
In a statement, Egypt’s foreign ministry stressed the importance of safeguarding Syria's resources and national institutions while reiterating its unwavering support for the Syrian state and people.
Cairo also reaffirmed its readiness to work with regional and international partners to alleviate the Syrian people's prolonged suffering.
The ministry emphasized its support for reconstruction efforts, the safe return of Syrian refugees, and achieving the stability Syria's people deserve.
15:00 Insurgents’ commander Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani said there is no room for turning back and the Syrian factions are determined to continue the path they started in 2011.
"The future is ours," he said in a statement read on Syria's state TV.
14:55 Nations worldwide continue to react to Assad's fall, calling for unity in Syria while warning against the risks of chaos.
In its first response, Iran reaffirmed its steadfast and fundamental stance on respecting Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We emphasize that the Syrian people are the ones who determine their country's fate, free from any destructive interventions or foreign impositions”, the statement read.
The ministry added that Iran will monitor development in Syria and the region closely, and will adopt appropriate approaches and positions.
Qatar's foreign ministry warned Syria must not be allowed to descend into chaos after al-Assad fall.
The Gulf emirate said it was "closely monitoring the developments in Syria" and emphasised "the necessity of preserving national institutions and the unity of the state to prevent it from sliding into chaos."
Welcoming Assad's ouster, France called on Syrians to "reject all forms of extremism".
Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told Sky News that while Assad "wasn't exactly good" to the Syrian people, "we need stability in that region".
14:19 The Israeli army said it has struck weapons depots in southern Syria and in the Damascus airport area. It claimed it fear they would fall into the hands of militants, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said citing an Israeli security source.
13:50 The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has left office and departed the country after giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power.
Moscow says Assad after negotiations with several parties and instructions to transfer power peacefully
In a statement, the ministry did not say where Assad was now and said Russia has not taken part in the talks around his departure.
It said Russia's military bases in Syria had been put on a state of high alert, but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time.
It said Moscow was in touch with all Syrian insurgent groups and urged all sides to refrain from violence.
13:47 The armed groups in Syria declared a curfew in Damascus from 4 PM to 5 AM
This aerial photo shows Damascus. AFP
13:21 Explosions were heard in Syria, in the Mazzeh area of Damascus, two security sources told Reuters.
The sources said suspected Israeli strikes had hit the Mazzeh district.
13:20 The Lebanese army said it was reinforcing its presence on the border with neighbouring Syria.
"In light of rapid developments and delicate circumstances that the region is going through... units tasked with monitoring and controlling the northern and eastern borders have been reinforced, in conjunction with tightening surveillance measures," the army said in a statement.
13:14 Iran's embassy in Syria was "attacked", Iranian state TV said.
"Unknown individuals have attacked the Iranian embassy, as you can see in these images shared by various networks," a state TV broadcaster said, showing footage from Al Arabiya, said to be from the diplomatic compound.
Iranian newspaper Tehran Times reported online that Iranian diplomats had left the embassy before it was stormed, citing foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
The report said that all embassy staff were safe.
It also accused rebel forces of being behind the attack.
This picture shows the damage after Syrians looted the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus. AFP
13:11 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that any new government in Syria must not threaten neighbouring nations, after armed groups took its capital Damascus.
Fidan said Turkey had worked with Syrians and regional and international actors to "assure the regional countries that the new administration and new Syria will not pose a threat for its neighbours, on the contrary, the new Syria will address the existing problems, will eliminate the threats".
He added โthat Ankara has been in contact with insurgents in Syria to ensure the Islamic State group and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) cannot expand there after the armed factions took Damascus.
"We have to be watchful during this transition period," Hakan Fidan said at the Doha Forum in Qatar. "We have communication with the groups to make sure that terrorist organisations, especially Daesh and PKK, is not taking advantage of the situation."
He said Assad was probably outside Syria after Islamist-led rebels declared he had fled the country.
Assad is "probably outside of Syria", Fidan said when asked in Qatar about Assad's whereabouts and whether his life might be in danger.
On Saturday, Fidan met at the Doha Forum with his counterparts from Assad allies Iran and Russia.
13:10 Syrian state TV briefly continued its programs, with an anchorman calling on all employees at the station to return to work adding that they are safe.
“This is Damascus, the capital of Syria where the gates of freedom have opened for the first time in many years. This is a historic day in Syria’s modern history” the anchorman said Sunday morning.
He later hosted Anas Salkhadi, a commander among the insurgents who stormed the capital. Salkhadi said that the armed factions would protect state institutions.
“Our message to all the sects of Syria is that we tell them that Syria is for everyone,” Salkhadi said. “We will not do what the Assad family did,” he said.
As Salkhadi spoke, the sound was cut and the broadcast suddenly stopped again. A red banner then appeared on screen with writing in Arabic that said: “The victory of the great Syrian revolution and the fall of Assad’s criminal regime.”
12:46 A Turkish security told Reuters that Syrian rebels have taken control of some 80% of northern Syria's Manbij area, close to victory against Kurdish forces there.
Earlier, Syrian insurgents said they had started an attack on Kurdish-led forces in Manbij, according to a statement posted on Sunday but dated Dec. 7 (Saturday) on X by the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government, as reported by Reuters.
Syrian Kurdish gunmen control the area around Qamishli's airport in northeastern Syria. AFP
12:26 Syria's foreign ministry said that it would continue to serve citizens abroad after rebels seized the capital Damascus.
The ministry "and its diplomatic missions abroad will remain committed to serving" and assisting all citizens, its website said, as several other ministries and public institutions called on employees to return to work, reassuring Syrians services would continue.
"Today, a new chapter is being written in Syria's history, marking the beginning of a national covenant and charter that unites the Syrians.
12:22 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Syria's government had collapsed.
The "Assad regime collapsed and control of the country is changing hands", Fidan said a the Doha Forum in Qatar, adding that "this didn't happen overnight.
Fidan added that Erdogan extended his hand to the Syrian regime in order to achieve unity in Syria, but this was met with rejection.
He said that millions of Syrians who were forced to leave their homeland can now return to it.
12:21 The Israeli army said it had deployed forces to a demilitarised buffer zone in southwest Syria abutting the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights after Damascus fell to rebel forces.
Israel had already said yesterday that its soldiers had entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone to assist peacekeepers in repelling an attack.
The army announced a troop deployment there, citing "the possible entry of armed individuals into the buffer zone".
11:56 While questions continue about the whereabouts of al-Assad, two senior army officers told Reuters that the Syrian President flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday.
A Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was reported to have been taken by rebels, according to data from the Flightradar website.
The aircraft initially flew towards Syria's coastal region, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map.
Two Syrian sources said there was a very high probability that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash as it was a mystery why the plane took a surprise U turn and disappeared off the map according to data from the Flightradar website, according to Reuters.
"It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down...," said one Syrian source without elaborating.
11:30 Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali told Al-Arabiya TV that he didn't know the whereabouts of Bashar Al-Assad and his defence minister.
He added that the government lost communication with al-Assad Saturday night.
11:23 China's foreign ministry said Sunday it hopes Syria "returns to stability as soon as possible."
Beijing "is closely following the development of the situation in Syria and hopes that Syria returns to stability as soon as possible", the foreign ministry said in a statement, AFP reported.
"The Chinese government has actively assisted Chinese citizens who are willing to leave Syria in a safe and orderly way, and has maintained contact with... Chinese citizens who remain in Syria," the ministry said.
"We urge the relevant Syrian parties to take practical measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria," it added.
"At present, the Chinese embassy in Syria is still holding strong, and we will continue to provide full assistance to Chinese citizens in need."
China is one of only a handful of countries outside the Middle East that Assad has visited since Syria's civil war began in 2011.
On that 2023 trip, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Assad announced a "strategic partnership" between their countries.
11:07 Syrian state TV has stopped airing footage of Damascus and is now displaying a red background with white text that reads: "The great Syrian revolution has triumphed and overthrown the criminal Assad regime."
11:06 The United States will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro sais.
"We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities," he told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain's capital.
"(We're determined) to ensure (Islamic State's) enduring defeat, to ensure the secure detention of ISIS fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons," Shapiro added.
The US military has illegally occupied Syrian sovereign territory since 2014, preventing Damascus from accessing its own oil and wheat fields. The Senate voted 13-84, rejecting a resolution to withdraw US troops.
11:00 The Russian embassy in Syria said that its staff are "fine" following the capture of Damascus by armed factions, Russia's state TASS news agency reported.
"We are fine," a Russian embassy staff member told TASS, without providing details on the diplomats' whereabouts. On Friday, the embassy had urged Russian nationals to leave the country.
Meanwhile, The Iranian news channel Press TV reported that the Iranian Embassy in Damascus has been stormed by "militants', without more details.
Moreover, Iraq has evacuated its embassy in Syria and moved staff to Lebanon, the Iraqi state news agency reported.
A foreign ministry official told AFP that the embassy's 10 employees including the mission's chief arrived "in Beirut by land, and are all in good condition", adding that the evacuation was "due to the tensions in Damascus... the full withdrawal of the army and the loss of security,"
10:46 The UN special envoy to Syria said the country was at "a watershed moment".
Describing nearly 14 years of civil war in Syria as a "dark chapter (that) has left deep scars", Geir Pedersen said in a statement that "today we look forward with cautious hope to the opening of a new one-one of peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for all Syrians".
"The challenges ahead remain immense and we hear those who are anxious and apprehensive," he added.
"Yet this is a moment to embrace the possibility of renewal. The resilience of the Syrian people offers a path toward a united and peaceful Syria," the statement continues.
Pedersen further expressed desire "that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, that the Syrian institutions continue to function."
10:25 Moammar al-Eryani, Information Minister of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, said Iran’s “expansionist project, which used sectarian militias as tools to complete the Persian Crescent, sow chaos, undermine the sovereignty of states ... is collapsing" as armed groups took over the Syrian capital, Damascus.
He also expressed hope that Yemenis would drive out the Houthi group, who seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north in 2014.
“The Yemenis, with their wisdom and steadfastness, are able to thwart the plans of Iran and its Houthi tool to violate their land and tamper with their destiny, just as those plans failed in Syria and Lebanon,” he wrote social media platform X.
This aerial photo shows smoke billowing from a building in Damascus. AFP
10:22 Syrian insurgents said they have started an attack on Kurdish-led forces in the northern Syrian town of Manbij, according to a statement posted on Sunday but dated Dec. 7 (Saturday) on X by the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government, as reported by Reuters.
10:20 A senior United Arab Emirates diplomat, Anwar Gargash declined to comment on his whereabouts when asked by reporters at a conference in Bahrain
Following speculation about Assad's whereabouts, Gargash refused to confirm or deny speculation he would take shelter in the UAE.
"When people ask, 'where is Bashar al-Assad going to?', this is really at the end of the day a footnote in history," presidential adviser Gargash told the the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.
"I don't think it's important. As I said, ultimately this is a footnote really to bigger events," the Emirati official added when pressed on the question by journalists.
He urged Syrians to collaborate to avert chaos.
"We hope that the Syrians will work together, that we don't just see another episode of impending chaos," Gargash said.
09:53 Syria’s Al-Watan newspaper, which was historically pro-government, wrote: “We are facing a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood. We believe and trust that Syria will be for all Syrians.”
The newspaper added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing government statements in the past, AP said.
“We only carried out the instructions and published the news they sent us,” it said. “It quickly became clear now that it was false.”
09:49 A statement from the Alawite sect — to which Assad belongs — called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.”
“We were and still are advocates of peace and advocates of unity,” it said, according to AP,
The statement called for “the language of reason and dialogue to prevail over all parties in the service of Syria and its great people.”
09:47 Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Jallali stated that communication took place with insurgents' leader Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, to discuss managing the current transitional period, stressing that Syria must hold free elections to allow the people to choose their leadership.
Al-Sharaa also communicated with the Syrian Minister of Communications, according to Jazeera.
The Qatari network aired footage of the moment the Syrian prime minister left his home with the armed factions.
09:40 Videos published by the insurgents showed the storming of the Republican Palace in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
The State Security building in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood of Damascus was also stormed, leading to the release of prisoners.
Skynews Arabia published footage of what it said were scenes of Syrians wandering inside the Syrian president's house and taking its contents.
09:39 The Axios website quoted an Israeli official claiming that Bashar Al-Assad left Damascus at midnight and headed to a Russian base in Syria in preparation for travelling to Moscow.
However, Israel's Channel 12 reported, citing sources, that there is no confirmation that Al-Assad has left Syrian territory.
The head of the armed factions, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Hadi al-Bahra, told Al Jazeera Mubasher that the Coalition will meet with Arab and European countries and the United Nations to agree on the next phase in Syria.
09:23 Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar Assad had been overthrown and all detainees in jails had been set free.
The man who read the statement said the armed group known as the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus called on all opposition fighters and citizens to preserve state institutions of “the free Syrian state.”
The armed factions took control of the radio and television building in Umayyad Square in Damascus on Sunday, as they prepared to deliver their first statement since they entered Damascus and Assad’s reportedly departure from the country.
09:10 The commander of Syria's US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls swathes of the country's northeast, hailed "historic" moments with the fall of the what it described as the "authoritarian regime" of Bashar al-Assad.
"In Syria, we are living through historic moments as we witness the fall of the authoritarian regime in Damascus," commander Mazloum Abdi said in a statement on Telegram, adding that "this change presents an opportunity to build a new Syria based on democracy and justice that guarantees the rights of all Syrians."
09:00 US President-elect Donald Trump said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had "fled his country" after losing the backing of Russia.
"Assad is gone," he said on his Truth Social platform. "His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer."
07:45 US President Joe Biden is keeping a close eye on "extraordinary events" transpiring in Syria, the White House said late Saturday, after a war monitor said President Bashar Al-Assad fled the country and rebels declared they have taken the capital.
"President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners," National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement on social media.
07:35 Residents in the Syrian capital were seen cheering in the streets of Damascus, as the armed factions heralded the departure of what they described as "tyrant" Assad and "declare the city of Damascus free," as reported by AFP.
The president's reported departure comes less than two weeks since the armed group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched its campaign challenging more than five decades of rule by the Assad family.
HTS said their fighters broke into a jail on the outskirts of the capital, announcing an "end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya."
07:02 Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Jalali said he was ready to "cooperate" with any leadership chosen by the people, after rebels said President Bashar Al-Assad had fled the country.
In a speech broadcast on his Facebook account, premier Jalali said "this country can be a normal country that builds good relations with its neighbours and the world".
"But this issue is up to any leadership chosen by the Syrian people. We are ready to cooperate with it (that leadership) and offer all possible facilities," he added.
Jalali said he was "ready for any handover procedures".
“I am in my house and I have not left, and this is because of my belonging to this country,” Jalili said.
He said he would go to his office to continue work in the morning and called on Syrian citizens not to deface public property.
He did not address reports that Assad had fled.
07:00 The armed group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham said that "Bashar Al-Assad has fled" and declared "the city of Damascus free."
"After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and (forced) displacement... we announce today the end of this dark period and the start of a new era for Syria," the rebels said on Telegram.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, said "Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left" the facility, AFP reported.
The leader of the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, ordered forces not to approach official institutions in Damascus, saying they would remain under the prime minister until they were "officially" handed over.
Rebel leader Jolani said in a statement on Telegram: "To all military forces in the city of Damascus, it is strictly forbidden to approach public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister until they are officially handed over."
"It is forbidden to shoot into the air," added Jolani, who has started using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa instead of his nom de guerre.
HTS and allied factions have pressed a lightning offensive since 27 November, sweeping swathes of the country from government control, including major cities Aleppo, Hama.
โThe rapid developments in Damascus come only hours after HTS said they had captured the strategic city of Homs, on the way to the capital.
The defence ministry earlier denied that insurgents had entered Homs, describing the situation there as "safe and stable".
Homs lies about 140 kilometres (85 miles) north of the capital and was the third major city seized by the armed factions who began their advance on November 27, reigniting a years-long war that had become largely dormant.
Assad's government has earlier denied the army had withdrawn from areas around Damascus.
Assad has for years been backed by Lebanese Hezbollah, whose forces "vacated their positions around Damascus" according to a source close to the group.
Hezbollah "has instructed its fighters in recent hours to withdraw from the Homs area, with some heading to Latakia (in Syria) and others to the Hermel area in Lebanon", the source also told AFP.
Monitoring events in Damascus, the Britain-based Observatory confirmed "the doors of the infamous 'Sednaya' prison... have been opened for thousands of detainees who were imprisoned by the security apparatus throughout the regime's rule".
The Observatory said on Saturday government forces had lost control of all southern Daraa province, the cradle of the 2011 uprising.
The army said it was "redeploying and repositioning" in Daraa and another southern province, Sweida.
Syrian opposition fighters remove a government Syrian flag from an official building in Salamiyah, east of Hama, Syria Syria. AP
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