Abu Mohammed al-Jolani leads rebels as Assad flees Syria after 24 years in power

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country as rebels, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of Damascus. This marks the end of Assad's 24-year rule. His current location is unknown, with speculation about a possible escape to the United Arab Emirates. HTS, an Islamist group with past ties to Al-Qaeda, launched the offensive against Assad's forces in late November. The group's leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has attempted to present a more moderate image since breaking from Al-Qaeda in 2016, despite ongoing perceptions of HTS as a terrorist organization. Jolani, inspired by the September 11 attacks, has shifted his focus from radicalism to leading the fight against Assad. He stated that the goal remains the regime's overthrow, asserting that its defeat has always been inevitable despite foreign support.