Syrian people's attitude toward the collapse of the "Assad regime"
The government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ruled for a quarter of a decade, yet it collapsed in just two weeks at the hands of armed opposition forces.
At the 1,300-year-old Umayyad Mosque in the heart of Damascus, the red, white, black, and green flag flies. Meanwhile, on the other side of the capital, the palace of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is ablaze.
The news anchor on December 8th read: "We announce to you from the Syrian news channel the victory of the great Syrian revolution, after 13 years of patience and sacrifice." And in the streets, hundreds of people cheered and celebrated the astonishing collapse after 50 years of the family rule of President Bashar al-Assad.
After less than two weeks of fighting across northwestern Syria, armed opposition groups quickly seized control of the capital. Their presence appeared to catch the regime by surprise, forcing Assad to declare his collapse, transfer power peacefully, and seek asylum in Russia with his family.
"We are currently the happiest country in the world," a man told CNN on his way to Damascus on December 8.
In a speech at the Umayyad Mosque on December 8, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of Syria's main armed opposition group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), called the overthrow of the Assad regime a "victory for the entire Islamic nation."
"This is a country where, if their rights are taken away, they will continue to demand them back until they are restored," said leader Jolani, adding that HTS is freeing people held captive by the Assad regime. Their rapid movement into the capital has astonished both the people and the world.
The following is a timeline of the armed opposition's rise to power:
The first indication of what was about to happen in their attack marked the first outbreak of hostility between the two sides in eight years.
According to opposition statements at the time, at least 37 people were killed – including government troops and allied militias. And rebels seized 13 villages, including the strategic towns of Urm al-Sughra and Anjara, as well as Base 46 – the Syrian government's largest military base west of Aleppo.
At the time, it was unclear whether the attacks had any other meaning. Rebel groups said they carried out the attacks in retaliation for recent shelling by the Assad regime.
Three days later, the first city fell.
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This marks the first time rebels have set foot in Aleppo since government forces regained control in 2016. They have seized large swathes of the city.
The Syrian army acknowledged its forces were retreating, saying that "a large number of terrorists" had forced them to "carry out a redeployment operation." They said reinforcements were on their way and government forces were preparing for a "counterattack."
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This city is strategically located at a crucial crossroads in west-central Syria, providing a direct supply route between Damascus and Aleppo.
The Assad regime had occupied Hama for more than a decade, but on December 5, the Syrian army said it had to withdraw after rebels "infiltrated several areas of the city".
From there, the rebels accelerated their advance toward Homs.
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Opposition forces continued their advance toward Damascus, capturing the city of Daraa with the support of rebel factions representing the Druze sect in the nearby city of as-Suwaydah.
Government troops said they were "re-deploying" after the attack, with rebels attacking forces from both the north and the south.
In the southern city of Homs, hundreds of people fled on the night of December 6th, as rebel forces claimed they had reached the city walls.
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After moving south for several days, HTS quickly gained control of Homs.
On the evening of December 7th, HTS announced that they had "completely liberated" the major city as Syrian citizens tore down posters depicting Assad and burned them.
"We liberated four Syrian cities within 24 hours: Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda, and Homs," Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesman for the rebel group, said before they entered Damascus.
After the government troops left, people poured into the streets to celebrate.
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Early on the morning of December 8th, Syrian rebels declared that the capital Damascus had been "liberated" after entering the city with virtually no resistance from government forces.
Celebratory gunfire could be heard as news of Assad's escape from the capital spread. Footage shared on social media and verified by CNN showed similar scenes in Aleppo, which had fallen to rebels just over a week earlier.
Leader Jolani addressed the Syrian people from the Umayyad Mosque. He said: "This victory, my brothers, is a victory for the entire Islamic nation. This new victory, my brothers, marks a new chapter in the history of the region."
Russian state media quickly confirmed that Assad had sought asylum in Russia.
