Watch: What next for Syria?
Fifty-four years of brutal and murderous Assad dynasty rule is over – but what comes next?
Here’s the latest from our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall.
Rayner ‘welcomes’ fall of Assad regime
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said she “welcomes the news” that the Assad regime has fallen in Syria.
She told Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that the situation looks “very serious”.
“If Assad has fallen and that regime is over, I welcome that. He wasn’t exactly good to the Syrian people,” she said.
“We want to see a political resolution so that we can get that stability for Syrians and make sure that they have their infrastructure so that they have a political government there that is working in the interest of the Syrian people.”
Asked for her message to UK citizens in Syria, Ms Rayner said the foreign secretary was “very clear” that they should leave.
“We’ve had a plan to ensure that people were evacuated ahead of what’s happened over the weekend and we continue to support our UK nationals,” she said.
Iraq evacuates embassy in Syria
The Iraqi embassy in Damascus has been evacuated and staff have been moved to Lebanon, the country’s state news agency has reported.
The reasons behind the evacuation were not made public.
Meanwhile, the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital is reportedly being stormed by “militants”.
These developments come just hours after rebel groups overthrew President Bashar al Assad and took control of the capital.
Analysis: Can there be a multi-party government in Syria?
The Syrian government has collapsed, falling to a lightning rebel offensive that seized control of the capital Damascus and sent crowds into the streets to celebrate.
But what happens now?
Our defence and security analyst Michael Clarke says it “will be nice to think there might be some sort of multi-party group” that might form.
But he adds: “The brutal truth is that if you look across the Middle East – all Middle Eastern countries seem to acquire relatively autocratic governments.
“Israel always says they are the only democracy in the Middle East and there is some truth to that, even though the democracy in Israel has been under enormous strain in the last few years.
“In the Gulf, you have kingdoms ruling with a benevolent dictatorship but they have lots of money and they can buy off a lot of protests.
“The nearest we have had to a multi-party government in an Arab state was in Tunisia and that collapsed, it didn’t go anywhere.”
He also says the government’s collapse is “not surprising”.
In full: Syrian rebel groups issue statement after ‘victory’
A little earlier we brought you part of a statement issued by the Syrian rebel groups who have managed to topple the Assad regime (see post at 7.57am).
We can now bring you that statement in full…
“The Syrian National Coalition congratulates the great Syrian people, all its sons and daughters, on the liberation of Syria from the criminal Assad regime, after 14 years of peaceful and armed struggle, from cries and bullets, for freedom, dignity, democracy, justice, and a safe and decent life.
“The coalition declares 8 December 2024 as a national holiday for Syria, as it is a day of victory for the martyrs and victims, a day of victory for the detainees, the displaced, and the oppressed, a day of victory for truth and justice over crime and injustice.
“The great Syrian revolution has broken decades of tyranny and oppression, giving birth to a new Syria. Today, it has moved from the struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria that honours the sacrifices of its people.
“We urge our people in all Syrian provinces to take great care of public properties, buildings, and facilities of all kinds, as they belong to the people and not to the terrorist Bashar Assad regime.
“The National Coalition reaffirms to the international community its commitment to completing the transfer of power to a transitional governing body with full executive authority, aiming for a free, democratic, and pluralistic Syria.
“It emphasises its concern for the safety and security of neighbouring countries and the non-interference of Syrians in their affairs. The coalition seeks to build strategic partnerships with countries in the region and the world to rebuild Syria.
“We also call on our Kurdish brothers to disengage from any foreign organisations and join the Syrian people to build Syria together, embracing all its people, cultures, and beliefs.”
Iranian embassy in Damascus stormed by ‘militants’ – report
The embassy in the Syrian capital is being stormed by “militants”, according to Iranian state-owned news channel Press TV.
Syrian rebel groups announced this morning they had “freed” Damascus following a lightning offensive into the city.
We’ll bring you more on this breaking news update as we get it.
Syria’s civil war: a timeline
Syria has experienced more than 13 years of civil war. Here are some of the key events since the conflict began.
2011: Anti-regime sentiment spreads across Syria after protesters are shot dead by government forces. Conflict breaks out between rebels and pro-Assad troops.
2012: Government forces relentlessly bombard rebel territory, particularly the besieged city of Homs.
2013: The Islamic State (IS) is founded and begins to grow in strength and territory. A chemical weapon attack in Ghouta, Damascus, killed hundreds. The UN found that sarin gas was used, but did not assign blame to the Assad regime or the rebels.
2014: IS declares a “caliphate” covering much of Syria and continues to fight both the Assad regime and the rebels. Foreign countries begin bombing IS strongholds.
2015: IS fighters seized the historic city of Palmyra, destroying monuments across the city, a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Russia launches its first airstrikes in Syria. Moscow said it was targeting IS, but the West accused it of also attacking rebels to support Damascus. This proved to be a turning point in the conflict.
2016: Syrian troops, backed by Iran and Russia, recapture Aleppo – a significant blow to the rebels.
2017: IS is driven from Raqqa, the capital of the “caliphate”, by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces – widely seen as a symbol of the terror group’s decline.
2018: At least 70 people died and hundreds were injured in an alleged chemical attack on Douma, eastern Ghouta. The US state department called it “one of the worst chemical attacks in Syrian history”. The US, UK and France launched airstrikes against Assad targets in response.
2019: Turkey launches an offensive into northeastern Syria.
2021: Daraa in southern Syria sees intense fighting after the region boycotted the presidential election. A ceasefire is agreed in September.
2022: IS militants attack a prison in northeast Syria, during which 500 people are killed and some fighters escape.
2023: A devastating earthquake strikes Turkey and Syria, killing tens of thousands of people.
‘Unknown’ whether Assad in UAE
A United Arab Emirates official has said they are unaware whether Syria’s President Bashar al Assad has fled to their country.
Asked whether Mr Assad is now in the UAE, diplomatic advisor to the president Anwar Gargash told reporters: “I don’t know.”
He said Mr Assad had not used the “lifeline” offered to him by various Arab countries before, including the UAE.
Mr Gargash said he must wait and see what happens next in Syria, but the UAE hopes for a “break in the cycle of violence and chaos”.
A “credible nation state” is the solution, he said, adding that the UAE’s main concern is “extremism and terrorism”.
In pictures: Celebrations on the streets across Syria
The streets of Syria have erupted in celebration after learning of the downfall of President Bashar al Assad’s regime.
Many people carried Syrian opposition flags, while rebel fighters burned materials.
Syrian rebel coalition says it has broken decades of tyranny and oppression
We’re just hearing now from the Syrian rebel coalition that has managed to topple the Assad regime.
It says the revolution has broken decades of tyranny and oppression and has created a new birth for “great Syria”.
The coalition will now work to complete the transfer of power to a transitional governing body with full executive powers, it says.