Syrian rebels declare overthrow of President Assad's government
Syrian rebels have declared the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime after 24 years in power.
Syrian rebels announced on December 8 that they had ended the 24-year rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the first announcement on state television after a lightning attack that took the world by surprise.
A Syrian officer briefed on the move told Reuters that the Syrian army command informed officers on December 8 that President Assad's regime had collapsed.
But the Syrian army later said it was continuing operations against "terrorist groups" in the towns of Hama, Homs and the Deraa countryside.
The rebel coalition said its forces were advancing into the western outskirts of Deir ez-Zor, the capital of Syria’s eastern province. The city is Syria’s seventh-largest, located on the Euphrates River and about 450 km (280 miles) from the capital Damascus.
Meanwhile, RIA Novosti quoted the Syrian Prime Minister as telling Al-Arbiya TV Channel that the last time he was with President Assad was on the evening of December 7, and currently the Syrian Prime Minister does not know where the President and the Minister of Defense are.
Witnesses said thousands of people in cars and on foot gathered in the main square in Damascus, waving and chanting "Freedom" after half a century of Mr Assad's rule.
The dramatic collapse marks a traumatic moment for the Middle East, and deals a blow to Russia and Iran, which are seen as key allies of President Assad in the region, according to Reuters.
The speed with which events unfolded has stunned Arab capitals and raised fears of a new wave of instability in the region.