Syrians celebrate fall of Assad as palaces open to public
Syrians flooded the streets in celebration on Sunday as decades of Assad family rule came to an end following a rapid rebel offensive that toppled President Bashar al-Assad. The unexpected collapse of the regime after 24 years of Assad’s authoritarian rule marked a turning point not only for Syria but for the broader Middle East, upending the influence of Russia and Iran in the region.
In Damascus, Aleppo, and other cities, jubilant crowds gathered, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag and chanting “Freedom.” The celebrations extended to Syrian communities abroad, where thousands joined in marking the end of the Assad era.
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“We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” the rebels declared, referencing a notorious jail near Damascus where the regime detained thousands.
As the regime fell, groups of Syrians entered Assad’s presidential palaces, exploring the once-restricted halls of power. Videos showed children running through grand rooms, men carrying furniture on their shoulders, and others photographing themselves in the ornate interiors.
At the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, storerooms were ransacked, with objects strewn across the floor. In the Muhajreen Palace, people wandered across marble floors and through towering wooden doors, some carrying ornaments and vases as mementos of the momentous day.
President Assad fled Damascus early Sunday as rebels entered the capital unopposed. His exact destination remains unknown, though reports suggest he flew out of the city as it fell. For the first time in over 50 years, the Assad family no longer holds power in Syria, a seismic development in the region.
The Syrian army command confirmed the regime’s collapse, informing officers that Assad’s rule had ended. Rebel forces reported no resistance as they swept into Damascus, marking the culmination of a week-long offensive that began with the capture of Aleppo.
The fall of Assad represents a significant blow to Russia and Iran, key allies who had propped up his regime during the 13-year civil war. The loss of Assad disrupts their strategic foothold in the Middle East and raises new uncertainties in a region already plagued by conflict.
For Syrians, the moment signals hope for a new era after years of war that killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions, and reduced cities to rubble. While the celebrations are in full swing, the task of rebuilding a fractured nation lies ahead.
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