NEWS CENTRE - It was stated that HTS, which launched an attack on Halab on 27 November, took control of the capital Damascus this morning and the Damascus government was overthrown.

 

It was stated that Hayyet Tahrir al-Sham, which launched an offensive against Syria on 27 November and took control of Halab, Hama and Homs, also took control of the capital Damascus this morning. It was also reported that President Bashar al-Assad left the country.

 

In the statement made on the Telegram account of the paramilitary structure, it was stated that ‘Tyrant Assad is gone and Syria is free’. ‘After 50 years of oppression, 13 years of crimes, tyranny and forced displacement under Baath rule, today, 8 December 2024, we declare that this dark period is over and a new era has begun in Syria,’ the statement said. The statement promised a state where ‘everyone lives in peace and justice prevails’ and said that Syrians who were displaced and imprisoned during Assad's rule could return to their homes.

 

Statement by the Syrian Prime Minister

 

On the other hand, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali shared a video and announced his willingness to cooperate with the transitional government. "The government is ready to extend its hand to the opposition and hand over its functions to the transitional government," Muhammad Ghazi Jalali said.

 

He stated that, "I am at home and I have not left, and this is because I do not belong to this country.”  He said he would go to his office in the morning and continue working, and called on Syrians not to damage public property. He did not address reports that Mr Assad had left the country.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced that President Bashar al-Assad left the country from Damascus International Airport at 22.00 yesterday evening. Assad's destination is not yet known.