Authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad falls after 13 years of war

DARAMSUQ — The authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad officially collapsed on Sunday as armed factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), announced their control over Syria, with the exception of the coastal Tartus and Latakia governorates. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali, arrested by the opposition at a hotel in Daramsuq (Damascus), confirmed the regime’s downfall.

Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the head of HTS, issued a statement prohibiting his fighters from approaching public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of former Prime Minister Jalali until they are formally transitioned. He also urged his forces to refrain from celebratory gunfire.

Jolani announced his intention to stay at home and support the continuity of state affairs, adding that the whereabouts of Assad and his defense minister have been unknown since Saturday night.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi security official reported that 2,000 Syrian regime officers and soldiers fled to Iraq. This movement, facilitated by an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and approved by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, includes injured personnel who were transferred to Al-Qaim hospital for medical care.

The dramatic developments mark a turning point in Syria’s conflict, leaving questions about the country’s future governance and the fate of its displaced and war-weary population.