Syria Syrian President Assad leaves Damascus
Syria's ruler Bashar al-Assad has left the capital Damascus with an unknown destination. The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel-Rahman, told the German Press Agency early this morning, citing Syrian officers in Damascus.
08.12.2024, 04:11
SDA
The rebels had previously launched their offensive on Damascus. The insurgents had entered the capital, said Abdel-Rahman. The rebels also confirmed the start of the offensive. According to their own statements, they also broke into a notorious prison and freed prisoners.
On November 27, the civil war in Syria suddenly flared up again with the offensive by the Islamist alliance Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Within a short space of time, the insurgents took control of many places, including Aleppo and Hama, largely without a fight. The alliance is aiming to overthrow the Syrian government.
The civil war in Syria began in 2011 with protests against the government. The spiral of violence led to a civil war with international involvement, in which Russia, Iran, Turkey and the USA are pursuing their own interests. Around 14 million people have been displaced. According to UN estimates, more than 300,000 civilians have died so far. There was no sign of a political solution until recently.
Assad took power in Syria more than two decades ago at the age of 34, following the death of his father Hafiz al-Assad, who had ruled the country in an authoritarian manner for decades. Initially, Assad, who had studied in England, raised hopes of a new course. However, the initial euphoria of the so-called "Damascus Spring", which briefly allowed for more open discussions, soon gave way to the return of authoritarian repression.
