Syrian rebel leader declares historic victory after capturing Damascus

Syria's rebel leader declared a "historic" victory on Sunday after his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, captured Damascus in under two weeks. This marks a significant shift in control as President Bashar al-Assad reportedly fled to Moscow. In a speech at the Umayyad Mosque, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa celebrated the takeover as a triumph for the Islamic nation and the Syrian people. He criticized Assad's regime for fostering sectarianism and foreign influence. The fall of the government ends over 13 years of civil war, which began with protests against Assad. HTS, linked to Al-Qaeda in the past, has worked to improve its image despite being labeled a terrorist organization by Western nations.