Syrian rebels have announced that they have taken control of the country's capital, the city of Damascus. Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left the capital on a plane that later disappeared from radar. This was reported by Reuters, citing sources in the Syrian army and air monitoring data.
A Syrian army officer has said that Bashar al-Assad's rule has ended after a rapid offensive by the rebels. This is confirmed by the statement of the opposition forces, who announced that Damascus is now under their control. According to journalists, the rebels entered the capital without encountering resistance from army units. Thousands of residents gathered in the city's main square, waving flags and chanting slogans for freedom.
While the capital fell into the hands of the rebels, the president of Syria took off in an unknown direction. The Syrian Airlines plane left the Damascus airport at the moment when it became clear that the city was no longer under the control of the government. According to Flightradar, the plane was initially headed for the coastal region, where the main stronghold of the Alawite sect, from which Assad hails, is located. However, after a few minutes, he abruptly changed course and disappeared from the radar. Journalists note that it is currently unknown whether Bashar Assad was on board.
The capture of Damascus by opposition forces and the sudden flight of Assad could become key moments in Syria's protracted civil war. The disappearance of the president increases the uncertainty about the further development of events in the country.
