Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country with his family and has reportedly sought asylum in Russia after rebels took control of the country in a 10-day blitzkrieg, seizing the capital Damascus and overthrowing the government.
The blitzkrieg, German for 'lightning war', began with a series of attacks beginning on November 27 in northern Syria. The rapid offensive led by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front, affiliated with terrorist group Al-Qaeda, and allied factions, ended Bashar al's 24-year rule -Assad and the After 54 years, the Assad family's control over the country came to an end.
Day 1
On November 27, the HTS, which controls much of northwestern Idlib and parts of the neighboring provinces of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia, led a rapid offensive, attacking Syrian army outposts in the north, killing more than 130 people died in the attacks.
The figures include 65 operatives from HTS,” 18 from allied factions “and 49 members of the regime's armed forces,” according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, AFP reported.
Day 2
The rebels take control of the highway connecting Aleppo with the Syrian capital Damascus.
Image credit: maps.google.com
“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions have closed the Damascus-Aleppo international M5 highway… and have additionally controlled the intersection between the M4 and M5 highways,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Day 3 and 4
On November 29 and 30, clashes escalated after rebels began shelling the government-held city of Aleppo. The HTS and Turkish-backed factions launched artillery attacks on university residences, killing at least four people.
The attack continued to take full control of Aleppo. Russian warplanes launched air strikes on rebels, a first since 2016, the Observatory said.
The rebels captured most of Aleppo within a day and held more than 80 towns and villages in the north.
Day 5
On December 1, for the first time in more than a decade since the start of the 2011 civil war during the Arab Spring, Aleppo was out of the control of the Syrian army.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Damascus to meet President Assad and said Tehran would “strongly support the Syrian government and army.”
The US, France, Germany and Britain are calling for 'de-escalation' and insisting on the protection of civilians and infrastructure in Syria.
Day 6
According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have both pledged “unconditional support” to their ally.
Day 7
The rebels captured Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city, after days of fierce fighting with Assad's forces. HTS chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani says there would be “no revenge” after Hama's seizure.
Day 8
The rebels reach very close to Homs, the “city of revolution”. HTS chief al-Jolani said the aim of the offensive was to overthrow Assad's regime, and reiterated “our right to use all available means to achieve that goal.” Syrian troops and Iranian-backed paramilitaries are withdrawing from the eastern city of Deir Ezzor – home to Iranian advisers brought in after 2011.
More than 820 people, including 111 civilians, have been killed since the offensive began, the Observatory said.
Day 9
On December 7, HTS, the largest of many rebel factions, took control of Homs and its chief Jolani said: “Damascus is waiting for you.” The Syrian Defense Ministry denied any withdrawal of troops from the capital.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is funding anti-Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, said the country is “tired of war, blood and tears.”
AFP reported that Hezbollah sent about 2,000 fighters to defend Syria.
Day 10
On December 8, the army withdrew from the capital and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was forced to flee the country after rebels captured Damascus, ending his 24-year rule.
News agency AFP reported that according to a war monitor, the army and security forces had left Damascus international airport.
The overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime follows the thirteen-year uprising that began as a peaceful uprising against President Assad and culminated in a full-scale civil war that devastated Syria.
By the end of the day, reports emerged from Russia that Assad was resigning and his family fled to Moscow, although the Kremlin did not confirm the reports.
Day 11
In Syria, festivities continue to mark the end of Assad's rule, which was marred by brutality against demonstrators during the 2011 protests. The civil war has left more than half a million people dead and six million refugees and countless others have been internally displaced.
— with input from AFP
