Insurgents Claim Control Over Damascus As Assad's Regime Faces Unprecedented Challenge
On Sunday, insurgents boldly announced their control over the Syrian capital, Damascus, declaring that President Bashar al Assad has fallen. The announcement was made during a live broadcast from Syrian state television, where a masked individual proclaimed that, "by the grace of God," the city of Damascus has been liberated, and all individuals imprisoned by the oppressive regime have been freed.
This statement came from the Damascus Operations Room, the name adopted by the insurgent coalition following their recent successes in combating Assad's regime. The unidentified speaker, flanked by eight men in civilian attire, urged the citizens to protect the properties of what he termed the "free Syrian country." His emphatic message was a call for unity, stating, "Let Syria live free for all Syrians in all its segments."
Abu Mohammed al Jolani, the prominent Islamist leader of the Levant Liberation Organization, celebrated the insurgents' victory, encouraging his followers to pray in gratitude for what he deemed a divine favor, provided through their militant efforts. The claims come on the heels of a twelve-day offensive led by a coalition that includes various Turkish-backed factions, a campaign aimed at dismantling the Syrian government.
In a parallel diplomatic landscape, U.S. President Donald Trump has distanced himself from the escalating crisis in Syria, asserting that it is not America’s fight. This comes in stark contrast to his predecessor Barack Obama, whom Trump has criticized for failing to uphold his commitments regarding the Syrian conflict.
On the same day of the insurgents’ announcement, Syrian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghazi al Jalali made a public appeal for unity, expressing his willingness to collaborate with any Syrian that wishes to preserve the country’s institutions. Amid the chaos, the Prime Minister asserted that public institutions in Syria would remain under the supervision of his government, at least until an official transfer of power occurs.
The current situation presents a precarious moment in Syrian history, with the combined pressure of insurgent forces threatening the very fabric of Assad’s regime. Whether the claims of liberation will hold or if this situation will escalate into further violence remains uncertain. As the country stands at a crossroads, one thing is clear: the fight for Syria’s future is far from over.
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