Syria is finally free, Bashar al-Assad Flees as Revolutionaries Take Over Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus after rebel fighters entered the city nearly unopposed. Thousands gathered in the capital, celebrating the end of Assad's rule and the release of prisoners from Sednaya prison. Rebels had previously demanded access to the capital, and after capturing several key cities, including Aleppo and Hama, they surrounded Damascus. On December 8, rebels took control of Homs, and Assad fled the capital on a Syrian Air plane, which took off from Damascus airport and made a sudden U-turn after the rebels' advance. The president's destination remains unknown. Rebels also freed all prisoners at Sednaya prison, where rights groups reported severe torture by government forces. This shift marks a turning point in the Syrian conflict, with the fall of key cities signaling the end of Assad's regime.