Rebels seize control of Damascus ending Assad family's 50-year rule in Syria

Rebel forces have taken control of Damascus, marking the end of over 50 years of Assad family rule in Syria. President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the country, with his current location unknown. Celebrations erupted in Damascus as residents welcomed the rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham. Videos showed minimal resistance from Syrian military personnel, who discarded their uniforms as the rebels advanced. The takeover follows a decade-long civil war against the Assad regime. The situation has shifted significantly, with various rebel groups now asserting control and promising safety for all religious communities in Syria.