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'Damascus is now free of Assad': Rebels capture capital and Homs [1]

['The New Arab Staff']

Date: 2024-12

Syrian rebels capture the capital Damascus and key city of Homs

Syrian rebels have announced that they have captured Damascus, after storming the city of Homs, with news of the president fleeing the capital.

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The head of Syria's main opposition group abroad Hadi al-Bahra Syrian said on Sunday that Damascus is now "without Bashar al-Assad".

Assad flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters, as rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.

Thousands in cars and on foot congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting "Freedom", witnesses said.

Just hours earlier, rebels announced they had gained full control of the key city of Homs after only a day of fighting, leaving Assad's 24-year rule dangling by a thread.

The fall of Homs gives the insurgents control over Syria's strategic heartland and a key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from the coastal region, a regime stronghold and where Russia has a naval base and air base.

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[1] Url: https://www.newarab.com/news/damascus-now-free-assad-rebels-capture-capital-and-homs

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