President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime has fallen in Syria after rebel forces seized control of the capital, Damascus, on Sunday.

“We declare the city of Damascus free,” the armed opposition announced in a statement on Telegram, amid reports that “tyrant” Assad has fled the country.

"After 50 years of oppression under the regime, and 13 years of crime, tyranny and displacement, and after a long struggle and fight and confronting all forms of occupation forces, we announce today on 12-8-2024 the end of this dark era and the beginning of a new era for Syria,” they stated.

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said the government was ready to hand over power peacefully. Rebel leaders urged fighters to avoid government sites, ensuring a smooth transition in the city.

After years of relative quiet, Syria's civil war was reignited with a major rebel offensive in Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city and once-thriving commercial hub last week. Armed Syrian rebels reportedly invaded and took control of the city, clashing with military forces in what was described as one of their most lethal attacks in years.

The offensive, which began on November 29, quickly escalated. The rapid assault over the next few days was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist rebel group from Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.

The insurgents seized the Aleppo International Airport and shared photos from the site. The militants reportedly faced little resistance from government forces as they expanded their operation, capturing multiple towns and villages in northern Hama. 

After capturing Aleppo, Syrian rebels continued their rapid advance, seizing Hama on Thursday despite heavy fighting and reinforcements sent by the military. Government forces, backed by Russian airstrikes and Iran-supported militias, failed to hold the city. Before taking Damascus on Sunday, the rebels also claimed control of Homs.

How the war first started in 2011

The Syrian war began in 2011 with peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, driven by widespread frustration over unemployment, corruption, and lack of political freedom. The Arab Spring's success in toppling Tunisia’s and Egypt’s leaders inspired hope among Syrian pro-democracy activists.

The demonstrations, however, were met with violent government crackdowns, sparking nationwide unrest that escalated into a full-scale war. The conflict has pitted Assad’s government, supported by Russia and Iran, against a range of anti-government rebel groups, backed by the United States and its allies, including France, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others.

The U.S. joined an anti-ISIL coalition in 2014, bombing ISIL targets and arming rebels, while Turkey launched operations against ISIL and Kurdish groups. Rebel groups were left with limited areas, primarily in Idlib, as Assad continued to rule with authoritarian measures.

The Aleppo offensive

In 2016, Aleppo, a key battleground, endured a brutal air campaign by Russian warplanes that helped Assad retake the city, which had been in a deadlock for four years. With the support of Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, Assad regained full control by December 22, 2016. The fall of Aleppo marked a major victory for Assad and his allies, further solidifying their grip on Syria's major population centres.

Eight years later, rebels have taken control of the city, for however long it may be, as the military prepares to fight back. In videos being circulated online, the insurgents can be seen around in the city, with one man saying “We are the first to arrive and the first to conquer.”

The Humanitarian Situation in Syria

The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire as the war continues. The UNHCR reports that 16.7 million people need humanitarian aid and protection, with 7.2 million expected to be internally displaced and 6.2 million living as refugees in neighbouring countries like Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. 

Syria's economy has collapsed, with 90 per cent of the population now living below the poverty line, according to the World Food Programme. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates the death toll to be around 610,000.