Overthrow after rapid offensive Chronicle of the dramatic events in Syria
An insurgent poses on December 8 with the head of a toppled statue of Hafiz al-Assad, the long-time ruler and father of the now fugitive dictator Bashar. Early on Sunday morning, an alliance of various rebel groups announced the capture of the Syrian capital Damascus. By then, Assad had apparently already fled the country.
Image: KEYSTONE
Opposition fighters celebrate the overthrow in Damascus on December 8. This day marked "a new chapter" for the Syrian nation, the Foreign Ministry announced in a statement after the president fled.
Image: KEYSTONE
Rebels pose in front of a military court in Damascus on December 8. They had previously set it on fire. However, the change of power in Syria and the capture of the capital apparently took place for the most part without any major fighting. The rebel alliance had previously announced that it would protect all "property of the Syrian people" and called on its fighters to stay away from government facilities.
Image: KEYSTONE
A man celebrates the overthrow in Damascus wrapped in a revolutionary flag. This shows three red stars on a green-white-black background in contrast to the - until now - official red-white-black national flag with two green stars, which is hated throughout the country as a symbol of the Assad clan's long-term rule.
Image: KEYSTONE
Many citizens of the capital took part in car parades to celebrate the end of decades of tyranny in Syria.
Image: KEYSTONE
Plumes of smoke over Damascus on December 08, 2024.
Image: Ghaith Alsayed/AP/dpa
An insurgent poses on December 8 with the head of a toppled statue of Hafiz al-Assad, the long-time ruler and father of the now fugitive dictator Bashar. Early on Sunday morning, an alliance of various rebel groups announced the capture of the Syrian capital Damascus. By then, Assad had apparently already fled the country.
Image: KEYSTONE
Opposition fighters celebrate the overthrow in Damascus on December 8. This day marked "a new chapter" for the Syrian nation, the Foreign Ministry announced in a statement after the president fled.
Image: KEYSTONE
Rebels pose in front of a military court in Damascus on December 8. They had previously set it on fire. However, the change of power in Syria and the capture of the capital apparently took place for the most part without any major fighting. The rebel alliance had previously announced that it would protect all "property of the Syrian people" and called on its fighters to stay away from government facilities.
Image: KEYSTONE
A man celebrates the overthrow in Damascus wrapped in a revolutionary flag. This shows three red stars on a green-white-black background in contrast to the - until now - official red-white-black national flag with two green stars, which is hated throughout the country as a symbol of the Assad clan's long-term rule.
Image: KEYSTONE
Many citizens of the capital took part in car parades to celebrate the end of decades of tyranny in Syria.
Image: KEYSTONE
Plumes of smoke over Damascus on December 08, 2024.
Image: Ghaith Alsayed/AP/dpa
The Syrian civil war stagnated for years - and then it happened very quickly. Rebel groups conquered Aleppo, Hama, Homs and finally Damascus and toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad. A chronicle.
Within a few days, Islamist fighters and militias allied with them conquered several major cities and large parts of the country - and then the capital Damascus too, with ruler Bashar al-Assad fleeing abroad. A chronicle of the dramatic developments:
November 27
The Islamist group Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies unexpectedly launch a major offensive. They attack the Assad troops in the northern province of Aleppo. Within 24 hours, more than 130 people are killed in the fighting, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
November 29
The insurgents enter the city of Aleppo. As a result, Russia, which is allied with Assad, launches airstrikes in Syria's second largest city - according to the Observatory, these are the first Russian airstrikes in Aleppo since 2016. Nevertheless, the HTS manages to take control of most of the city within a day.
December 2
Russia and Iran pledge further military aid to Assad. In a telephone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Massud Peseshkian express their "unconditional support" for the Syrian government. Assad, for his part, denounces the Islamists' offensive in a statement as an attempt to "redraw the map in line with the goals of the United States and the West".
December 5
The HTS and their allies capture Syria's fourth largest city, Hama, after fierce fighting with government troops.
December 6
The insurgents close in on Syria's third-largest city, Homs. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani names the overthrow of Assad as the goal of the offensive. According to the Observatory, more than 820 people have been killed since the offensive began and 280,000 people have been forced to flee, according to UN figures.
December 7
The insurgents take Homs. "Damascus is waiting for you", declared HTS leader al-Jolani in a message to his fighters.
December 8
Assad flees the country - it is not initially known where he is going. The ousted president flew out of Damascus International Airport, according to the Observatory. The Syrian army and other security forces withdraw from the airport. The insurgents enter the capital. They announce the capture of Damascus and the "beginning of a new era for Syria". Residents celebrate in the streets.
