Western media reports say the rebels who have swept through Syria captured Syria’s capital, Damascus, yesterday.

According to media outlets, the rebels are led by Islamist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army.

NBC News reported yesterday that videos circulating on social media and verified by it appeared to show

Syrians celebrating across Damascus overnight and into the day, as crowds honked horns, waved flags and fired their guns into the air, while others posed for selfies standing on top of a tank.

Photos and video reportedly showed people toppling statues of Hafez al-Assad, father of ousted President Bashar Al-Assad, in cities across Syria, including in the Assad stronghold of Latakia.

Russian state-run media reported Sunday that Assad fled to Moscow.  

Citing an official source in Russia, CNN says Assad and his family were granted political asylum.

Who are the rebels in Syria?

The leader of the Islamist militant group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, is very much putting himself forward as the figurehead of a post-Assad future in Syria.

Once known as the Nusra Front, a former wing of al Qaeda, HTS is said to have around 30,000 troops and has long been designated a terrorist group by the US and Russia.

The founder of HTS, Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, was once a participant in the Iraqi insurgency against the US as a member of the group that eventually became Islamic State.  In recent years however, he has reportedly presented a more moderate view of himself, suggesting he has no urge to wage war against Western nations, and has vowed to protect minorities.

Thus, Clash Report says Syrian opposition forces secured an agreement with Salamiyah’s Ismaili (branch of Shiism) leaders, to protect the city peacefully without conflict.   Located in Hama province, Salamiyah is considered a cultural and religious center for Ismailis, a branch of Shia Islam.

Avia-pro reported on December 5 that amid the instability and escalating conflict in the region, opposition forces proposed that members of the community refrain from armed resistance to protect the city from potential destruction and civilian casualties.   

Representatives of the opposition, in turn, assured the Ismailis that Salamiyah would remain under their protection and promised not to carry out military operations in the vicinity of the city.

Meanwhile, other rebel groups include rebel factions that once operated under the banner of the Free Syrian Army from southern towns and cities that had been dormant for years, but where the spark of rebellion had never entirely been sniffed out.

Over to the east, Kurdish-led forces have benefited from the collapse of the Syrian army to take full control of the main city, Deir El-Zour.  In the vast Syrian desert, remnants of the so-called Islamic State could also look to take advantage of the situation. And in the far north along the Turkish border, the Syrian National Army - backed by Ankara - could also prove to be a significant player in what happens next.

International reaction

The Voice of America (VOA) says European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen said that the cruel Assad dictatorship has collapsed.  This historic change in the region offers opportunities but is not without risks.  Europe is ready to support safeguarding national unity and rebuilding a Syrian state that protects all minorities."

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola reportedly noted that "The dictator has fallen. It is clear that Bashar al-Assad's brutal 24-year rule of Syria is over as his regime lies in tatters.  This is a critical period for the region and for the millions of Syrians who want a free, stable and secure future. What happens in the next hours and days matters."

“President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners," the White House said in a statement.

"Assad is gone.  He has fled his country.  His protector, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer," U.S. President-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social.  "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success."

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in statement Iran respects Syria's unity and national sovereignty and called for "the swift end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist actions, and the commencement of national dialog" with all sectors of Syrian society.  Tehran said it would continue to support international mechanisms for pursuing the political process, adding that long-standing and friendly relations between the Iranian and Syrian nations are expected to continue.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Syrian President Bashar Assad has left office and departed the country after giving orders for there be a peaceful handover of power.  It said Russia's military bases in Syria had been put on a state of high alert, but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time. Moscow is reportedly in touch with all Syrian opposition groups and urges all sides to refrain from violence.

Citing a Saudi official, Reuters says Saudi Arabia has been communicating with all regional actors on Syria and is determined to do what is possible to avoid a chaotic outcome for the country.  "We have been in contact with all actors in the region. We are in constant communication with Turkey and every stakeholder involved," the official was quoted as saying. 

Syria has reached a stage where the Syrian people will shape the future of their own country, today there is hope, Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan said in a news conference in Doha, according to VOA.  “The Syrian people cannot do this alone. Turkey attaches importance to Syrian territorial integrity.  A new Syrian administration must be established inclusively, there should be no desire for revenge.  Turkiye calls on all actors to act with prudence and to be watchful.  Terrorist organizations must not be allowed to take advantage of this situation. Opposition groups must be united. We will work for stability and safety in Syria.”

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen reportedly underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, a statement said.  He urged all Syrians to prioritize dialog, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future.