Rebel leader declares victory in Damascus as Assad reportedly flees to Moscow
Rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, announced a "historic" victory after his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of Damascus. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly fled to Moscow. In a speech from the Umayyad Mosque, al-Sharaa celebrated the end of Assad's rule and claimed Syria is being "purified" from Iranian influence. He criticized Assad's government for fostering sectarianism. HTS's rapid takeover of the capital marks a significant shift in the Syrian conflict, which has lasted over 13 years and resulted in more than 500,000 deaths. HTS, once linked to al-Qaeda, is still labeled a terrorist organization by Western nations.