In the bustling streets of Damascus, a red, white, black and green flag flutters above the famous Umayyad Mosque. Meanwhile, at the palace of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, flames devour what was once a symbol of power.
Headlines roll across the screens of Fatshimetrie, announcing the spectacular fall of the Assad dictatorship that lasted 50 years. “We announce to you, from the Syrian news channel, the victory of the great Syrian revolution after 13 years of patience and sacrifice,” the host solemnly proclaims.
At the same time, hundreds of people dance and sing in the streets of Damascus, celebrating the incredible takeover of the capital by rebel groups after less than two weeks of merciless fighting across northwestern Syria. Assad, forced to flee to Russia with his family, sees his reign end in an unexpected tumult.
“We are now the happiest country in the world,” an excited man told CNN on the road to Damascus on Sunday.
In a rousing speech from the Umayyad Mosque, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Syria’s main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), called Assad’s fall “a victory for the entire Islamic nation.” He said HTS was freeing those imprisoned by the Assad regime, heralding a new future for Syria.
The rebels’ meteoric rise to power has stunned Syrian citizens and the world, upending the political balance in the region.
The story of their rise to power is gradually emerging:
November 27: Rebel forces launch first attack
Syrian rebel forces launch a major attack on Assad’s troops in western Aleppo, marking the start of their offensive and the first clash between the two sides in years. At least 37 people are killed, both by regime forces and allied militias, and rebels take control of 13 strategic villages, including the towns of Urm al-Sughra and Anjara, as well as Base 46, the largest Syrian army base in western Aleppo.
What appeared to be a response to recent artillery attacks by the Assad regime quickly morphs into something much larger.
November 30: Rebels take control of Aleppo
In a lightning offensive on November 30, rebel groups seize Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, turning the tide in their favor. It is the first time since 2016 that they have regained control of the city. In the early morning, geotagged images from CNN show the extent of their advance.
The Syrian army, implicitly acknowledging its withdrawal, announces that it is forced to set up a “redeployment operation” in the face of the “numerous terrorists” who have forced it to retreat.. She claims reinforcements are on the way and government forces are preparing for a counteroffensive.
December 5: Rebels take control of Hama
Rebels continue their offensive toward the city of Hama, strategically located at the crossroads of western and central Syria, providing direct supply lines between Damascus and Aleppo.
Despite the Assad regime’s control of the city for more than a decade, rebels manage to penetrate several neighborhoods, forcing Syrian troops to withdraw. Videos geotagged by CNN show rebel fighters celebrating their advance, almost in disbelief at their success.
“Guys, my country is being liberated. I swear to you, we entered the city of Hama, we entered the city of Aleppo,” one fighter exclaims as he films his joy by a local monument in Hama.
December 7: Homs Falls
After days of advancing south, HTS quickly takes control of Homs, a major Syrian city. The group proudly announces that it has “completely liberated” the city, while Syrians tear down posters of Assad and burn them.
In this series of impressive events, the Syrian revolution of 2024 is being written with the blood, tears, and hope of a people yearning for a better future.
This chapter in Syrian history remains marked by the struggle for freedom, the sacrifices made, and the victories won over tyranny. The images of the Syrian revolution of 2024 will remain etched in our memories, testifying to the courage and resilience of a people determined to forge their own destiny.