In a swift weekend take-over rebels seized Damascus forcing President Bashar al-Assad to escape to Russia ending his familys half-century rule and 13-year civil war in Syria
The Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani) now controls the capital — marking a huge power-shift that impacts Russian and Iranian influence in the region. Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov confirmed Moscowʼs decision to give Assad and his family protection
A new history my brothers is being written in the entire region after this great victory; Syria will be a beacon for the Islamic nation
The take-over brings hope to millions of refugees (scattered across Turkey Lebanon and Jordan since 2011) while creating un-certainty about Syriaʼs future. US President Joe Biden noted that for the first time in years neither Russia Iran nor Hezbollah have control in the region
Damascus streets are quiet with a rebel-imposed curfew; though some looting happened at Assadʼs palace and local shops. Former political prisoners now free walk the streets showing how many years they spent locked-up; while emergency teams search for hidden detention cells
The US military conducted anti-ISIS strikes in central Syria while maintaining about 900 troops in-country. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Turkish counter-part about protecting civilians during this transition
The rebels face huge tasks:
* Rebuilding destroyed cities
* Managing different religious groups
* Getting international support
* Dealing with economic problems from sanctions