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Trump unleashes on Putin, Syrian dictator

US President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed a hated dictator has “fled his country”, taking a swipe at Vladimir Putin in the process.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 24, 2024. Picture: AFP

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 24, 2024. Picture: AFP

Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken Damascus in a lightning offensive on Sunday, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria.

In a message broadcast on state television, the rebels announced that they had toppled “tyrant” Assad and freed unjustly detained prisoners. 

A group of people were shown at the state television news studio, with one reading a statement from the “Damascus Conquest operations room” announcing “the liberation of the city of Damascus and the fall of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad and the release of all the unjustly detained from the regime prisons”.

They also called on fighters and citizens to safeguard the “property of the free Syrian state”.Residents in the Syrian capital were seen cheering in the streets of Damascus after the rebel group’s announcement.

US president-elect Donald Trump confirmed Assad had “fled his country”, saying he left after losing the backing of Russia.

 

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 24, 2024. Picture: AFP
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 24, 2024. Picture: AFP

 

“Assad is gone,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer.”

The president’s reported departure comes less than two weeks since the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched its campaign challenging more than five decades of rule by the Assad family.

“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 rebel factions said on Telegram.

 

The rebel group made an annoucement on TV. Picture: X
The rebel group made an annoucement on TV. Picture: X
 
 
Syrian rebel fighters parade detained members of the Syrian government's forces in civilian clothing in Homs. Picture: Aaref Watad/AFP
Syrian rebel fighters parade detained members of the Syrian government's forces in civilian clothing in Homs. Picture: Aaref Watad/AFP
 
 
 
Anti-government fighters celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Anti-government fighters celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 
 
People sit on a tank as they gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: AFPTV/AFP
People sit on a tank as they gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: AFPTV/AFP
 
 
Anti-government fighters cheer from the back of a car near Umayyad Square. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Anti-government fighters cheer from the back of a car near Umayyad Square. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 

Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali said he was ready to cooperate with “any leadership chosen by the Syrian people”.

The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP “Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left” the facility.

 

Syrian rebels have reached the suburbs of Damascus and toppled a statue.
Syrian rebels have reached the suburbs of Damascus and toppled a statue.
 
 
Rebels attacking from the south now claim to control the southern neighbourhood of Darayya.
Rebels attacking from the south now claim to control the southern neighbourhood of Darayya.
 
 
An anti-government fighter holds a weapon as he keeps position near a defaced portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in the city of Hama. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
An anti-government fighter holds a weapon as he keeps position near a defaced portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in the city of Hama. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
 

While reports remain unconfirmed, a source close to Hezbollah told AFP fighters from the key Assad ally had left their positions around Damascus.

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” which has become a byword for the darkest abuses of the Syrian regime.

 

There have been rapid developments on the sitaution in Syria. Picture: AFPTV/AFP
There have been rapid developments on the sitaution in Syria. Picture: AFPTV/AFP
 
 
Anti-government fighters gather at Umayyad Square. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Anti-government fighters gather at Umayyad Square. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 

The rapid developments in Damascus come only hours after HTS said they had captured the strategic city of Homs on the way to the capital.

 

A militant poses for a picture after anti-government fighters seized Syrian army military equipment that were abandoned on the highway to Damascus. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
A militant poses for a picture after anti-government fighters seized Syrian army military equipment that were abandoned on the highway to Damascus. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
 
 
Local residents cheer as the gather on a street in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Local residents cheer as the gather on a street in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP

 

The defence ministry denied that rebels had entered Homs, describing the situation as “safe and stable”.

Homs lies about 140 kilometres north of the capital and was the third major city seized by the rebels, who began their advance on November 27, reigniting a years-long war that had become largely dormant.

 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly left the country. Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly left the country. Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP
 
 
Syrian rebels called on citizens abroad to return to a 'free Syria'. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Syrian rebels called on citizens abroad to return to a "free Syria". Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 

Biden is ‘closely monitoring’ the situation in Syria

US President Joe Biden is keeping a close eye on “extraordinary events” transpiring in Syria, the White House said.

“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.

 

People celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
People celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 
 
Anti-government fighters cheer from the back of a car at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Anti-government fighters cheer from the back of a car at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP

UN envoy voices ‘cautious hope’ for Syria

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”.

Syrian rebels not to approach official institutions in Damascus

The leader of Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has ordered forces not to approach official institutions in Damascus, saying they would remain under the prime minister until they are “officially” handed over.

“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,” Jolani said in a statement on Telegram, using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa instead of his nom de guerre.

“It is forbidden to shoot into the air,” he added.

 

Public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister, the rebel leader said. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister, the rebel leader said. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 
 
Locals take to the streets. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Locals take to the streets. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 
 

Rebels topple statue

Meanwhile, Damascus residents are bracing for chaos as rebels circle.

In footage circulating on social media, rebels appear to have reached the outer suburbs of Damascus, where they’ve since toppled an iconic statue.

The footage shows a statue of Assad’s father, Hafez, toppling to the ground in Damascus’ eastern suburb of Jaramana.

Protesters can be seen ripping the head off the giant statue, which sat less than 10km from the centre of the city. The rebels then shifted focus to attacking posters of Assad and demanding security forces leave the area, The Sun reports.

 

A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is pictured with its frame broken, in a Syrian regime's Political Security Branch facility on the outskirts of the central city of Hama. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is pictured with its frame broken, in a Syrian regime's Political Security Branch facility on the outskirts of the central city of Hama. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
 
 
This image grab from a UGC video posted on December 7, 2024 shows Syrian protesters toppling a statue of late president Hafez al-Assad in Jaramana. Picture: UGC/AFP
This image grab from a UGC video posted on December 7, 2024 shows Syrian protesters toppling a statue of late president Hafez al-Assad in Jaramana. Picture: UGC/AFP
 
 
 
People stand atop a toppled statue of Syria’s late president Hafez al-Assad in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
People stand atop a toppled statue of Syria’s late president Hafez al-Assad in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 
 
 
An aerial view of the Syrian central city of Homs. Picture: Aaref Watad/AFP
An aerial view of the Syrian central city of Homs. Picture: Aaref Watad/AFP
 

It is understood the Assad regime’s defensive line in the northwest of the country has collapsed surprisingly fast. 

On Sunday morning local time, CNN reported dramatic scenes within Damascus airport with 

dozens of people desperately trying to pass through security checkpoints and onwards to departure gates in a bid to flee the country.

The publication reported that parts of the airport appeared to be unstaffed.

 

Armed men pose for pictures near a military vehicle belonging to the Syrian regime forces and seized by anti government forces. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
Armed men pose for pictures near a military vehicle belonging to the Syrian regime forces and seized by anti government forces. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
 
 
Anti-government figthers ride a motorcycle on the highway to Damascus. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
Anti-government figthers ride a motorcycle on the highway to Damascus. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP

Rebels take hold

Last week, rebels seized the second-city of Aleppo in the northeast as well as Idlib and Hama. The group claim, as reported by the BBC, that Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani has “fully liberated” Syria’s central city of Homs.

According to the report, Syria’s Islamist rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani called the takeover a “historic moment”. It is understood he called on his fighters not to harm “those who drop their arms”.

In a video post on Telegram, al-Jolani says: “We are living in the final moments of the liberation of the city of Homs … this historic event that will distinguish between truth and falsehood”.

 

Anti-government fighters in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
Anti-government fighters in Damascus. Picture: Louai Beshara/AFP
 

While there are many of them, Syria’s main rebel group says it will now focus on Damascus, after capturing four cities in a day to the south and north of the capital.

“We were able to liberate four Syrian cities within 24 hours: Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs, and our operations are continuing to liberate the entire Damascus countryside, and our eyes are on the capital, Damascus,” Ghani said early Sunday morning local time, as reported by CNN.

 

A military vehicle belonging to the Syrian regime forces and seized by anti government forces burns after it was hit by regime forces in the Hama governorate. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
A military vehicle belonging to the Syrian regime forces and seized by anti government forces burns after it was hit by regime forces in the Hama governorate. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
 
 
Syria's embattled government said on December 7, it was setting up a ring of steel around Damascus. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP
Syria's embattled government said on December 7, it was setting up a ring of steel around Damascus. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP

If that proves true, and Damascus is the next to fall, officials say it would be a tremendously fast fall from power for the Syrian dictator after a civil war that began in 2011.

– With AFP

Author: Editors Desk, Staff writers and AFP

Source: News Corp Australia Network:

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