Syrian President Assad Flees Damascus Amid Uproar, Rebels Celebrate Victory
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus on December 8, according to senior army officers, as protests erupted across the capital. Despite efforts by security forces, large crowds in various districts of Damascus protested against Assad’s rule. The unrest spread to Homs, where thousands poured into the streets chanting, “Assad is gone, Homs is free,” as the army withdrew. Rebels celebrated by firing into the air and tearing down posters of Assad. The Syrian leader's territorial control rapidly collapsed after a week-long military retreat, signaling a major shift in the ongoing civil war.
