Jihadists Announce Their Seizure of Power in Syria
Islamists have taken control of Damascus, proclaiming the city “free” and stating that President Bashar Assad has abandoned the capital. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Islamists have entered Damascus and declared the city “free,” claiming that President Bashar Assad has fled the capital.
On Saturday, jihadists and other anti-government militias reportedly took control of the Syrian capital. They asserted that the city is now liberated from Assad's regime, with claims that he has left the capital.
Reuters, citing two senior army officers, reported that Assad, who has ruled the country for nearly 25 years, departed from Damascus on Saturday evening “for an unknown destination.” Just hours before this announcement, the jihadists indicated that they had achieved full control over the strategic city of Homs after only a day of clashes.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad al-Jalali expressed a willingness to cooperate “with any leadership chosen by the people,” stating he remains in his home.
The group HTS, led by a former Al-Qaeda commander and formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, launched a surprise offensive from the opposition-controlled province of Idlib in northern Syria just last week. They have already succeeded in pushing the Syrian Army from cities such as Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Al-Qusayr, located near the Lebanese border.
Meanwhile, the US-backed Free Syrian Army has taken control of the ancient site of Palmyra, and the Syrian Democratic Forces, also supported by the US, have captured Deir ez-Zor in the eastern part of the country.
Since the onset of the conflict in 2011, Syrian authorities have been involved in numerous localized battles as various anti-government factions have sought to overthrow Assad. Among the opposition, jihadist forces, particularly those receiving external military aid, have become prominent players.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
On Saturday, jihadists and other anti-government militias reportedly took control of the Syrian capital. They asserted that the city is now liberated from Assad's regime, with claims that he has left the capital.
Reuters, citing two senior army officers, reported that Assad, who has ruled the country for nearly 25 years, departed from Damascus on Saturday evening “for an unknown destination.” Just hours before this announcement, the jihadists indicated that they had achieved full control over the strategic city of Homs after only a day of clashes.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad al-Jalali expressed a willingness to cooperate “with any leadership chosen by the people,” stating he remains in his home.
The group HTS, led by a former Al-Qaeda commander and formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, launched a surprise offensive from the opposition-controlled province of Idlib in northern Syria just last week. They have already succeeded in pushing the Syrian Army from cities such as Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Al-Qusayr, located near the Lebanese border.
Meanwhile, the US-backed Free Syrian Army has taken control of the ancient site of Palmyra, and the Syrian Democratic Forces, also supported by the US, have captured Deir ez-Zor in the eastern part of the country.
Since the onset of the conflict in 2011, Syrian authorities have been involved in numerous localized battles as various anti-government factions have sought to overthrow Assad. Among the opposition, jihadist forces, particularly those receiving external military aid, have become prominent players.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
