look news india
DAMASCUS: As rebels attacked the capital Damascus on Sunday morning and captured key government buildings, the Assad family’s 50-year iron rule ended, but questions about Syria’s future remained unanswered. As the rebels reached the capital, citizens began gathering in the central square chanting ‘freedom, freedom’. They waved the flag of Syrian revolutionaries, reminiscent of the days of the Arab revolt. Now Bashar al-Assad’s brutal 24-year rule and 14-year-long civil war in Syria has ended.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) now controls the Syrian capital, Damascus. With this, HTS rebels have captured Aleppo, Hama, Homs and the capital Damascus in just 10 days. Rebels have captured the Defense Ministry, Public Radio and TV building. Following the retreat of former President Bashar al-Assad to Damascus, HTS chief Abu Mohammed al-Julani announced he wanted a peaceful transfer of power, until then held by former Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalal.
With the victory of the rebels, former President Bashar al-Assad has fled to an unknown location. However, Russia, a supporter of Assad, said Assad had left the country only after talks with the rebel group. It was he who had talked about peaceful transfer of power to former Prime Minister Zala.
Former al-Qaeda commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani said it would usher in pluralism and religious tolerance in Syria. They are ready to shape the future of the country. The end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria is a major blow to Russia and Iran as well as their allies. Wars with Israel and Ukraine have weakened Iran and Russia.
However, the rebels now face the enormous challenge of pacifying war-torn Syria and quelling various armed groups. US-allied Kurdish forces are fighting Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria, while Islamic State (IS) militants are active in some areas of Syria’s interior.
In a video statement on Syrian state television Sunday morning, the rebel group said Assad had been ousted from power and all prisoners were being released. He appealed to the people to maintain the institutions of the ‘Free Syrian Government’. However, rebels later imposed a 4.00 pm to 5.00 am curfew in Damascus.
Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi assured Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities on state TV that Syria is a country for all people. People of all religions, Druze, Sunni, Alawite, Shia, will be welcomed here. We will not behave the way the Assad family treated people. For the first time in many years, the doors of liberation are open in Damascus. Sarkhadi was speaking on state TV when the broadcast was suddenly stopped and a read: ‘Victory to the Great Syrian Revolution and the end of Assad’s tyrannical regime.’