Rebel coalition captures Damascus, ending Bashar al-Assad's rule in Syria

Bashar al-Assad's rule in Syria ended as opposition rebels captured Damascus after a rapid advance. The Syrian army was weakened and demoralized, while key allies Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia were distracted by other conflicts. The rebel coalition's success followed a surprise attack that took Aleppo and other cities. Assad's military, suffering from corruption and low morale, could not effectively resist the offensive, leading to a swift collapse of his regime. Turkey, a supporter of the rebels, was aware of the impending offensive but did not intervene. Meanwhile, Iran and Hezbollah faced setbacks in their own conflicts, further diminishing support for Assad.