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<p>Hours after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country, a video by Syrian opposition media showed a group of armed men escorting Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali out of his office and to the Four Seasons hotel. Earlier on December 8, Jalali called for free elections in the country. He also said that he is in contact with the rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to discuss managing the transition period.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Assad 'resigned'&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday (Dec. 8) that Assad has left the country after having given orders for a peaceful handover of power.</p>

<p>"As a result of negotiations between B Assad and several participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations," the ministry said.</p>

<h2>Israeli strikes in Syria&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Multiple Israeli airstrikes were reported in Daraa and Suwayda areas in southern Syria on Sunday (Dec. 8), reported Syrian media.&nbsp;The strikes were reported near the Syria-Israel border and also at the Mezzeh airbase near the capital Damascus.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Bashar Al-Assad Flees as Rebels Declare Victory in Syria</strong></p>

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<p>The strikes targeted ammunition and weapons depots at the Khalkhalah airbase in Suwaydam, The Times of Israel reported.</p>

<p>No immediate comment was given by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Earlier, IDF said it was tracking weapons in Syria and ensuring they do not reach Hezbollah or any other elements to prevent any kind of threat to Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Israeli strikes came after Syrian rebel factions announced on state television that they had successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and had freed "unjustly detained" prisoners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The development came after a wave of intense clashes and strategic advancements by the rebel forces in Damascus and surrounding areas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hours after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country, a video by Syrian opposition media showed a group of armed men escorting Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali out of his office and to the Four Seasons hotel.

Hours after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country, a video by Syrian opposition media showed a group of armed men escorting Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali out of his office and to the Four Seasons hotel. Earlier on December 8, Jalali called for free elections in the country. He also said that he is in contact with the rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to discuss managing the transition period. Assad 'resigned' Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday (Dec. 8) that Assad has left the country after having given orders for a peaceful handover of power. "As a result of negotiations between B Assad and several participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations," the ministry said. Israeli strikes in Syria Multiple Israeli airstrikes were reported in Daraa and Suwayda areas in southern Syria on Sunday (Dec. 8), reported Syrian media. The strikes were reported near the Syria-Israel border and also at the Mezzeh airbase near the capital Damascus. Watch | Bashar Al-Assad Flees as Rebels Declare Victory in Syria × The strikes targeted ammunition and weapons depots at the Khalkhalah airbase in Suwaydam, The Times of Israel reported. No immediate comment was given by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Earlier, IDF said it was tracking weapons in Syria and ensuring they do not reach Hezbollah or any other elements to prevent any kind of threat to Israel. The Israeli strikes came after Syrian rebel factions announced on state television that they had successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and had freed "unjustly detained" prisoners. In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property. The development came after a wave of intense clashes and strategic advancements by the rebel forces in Damascus and surrounding areas. (With inputs from agencies)

Armed men escort Syrian PM to hotel after Bashar al-Assad flees country

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<p>As Syrian President Bashar al-Asad fled the country, Syrians stormed into his palace in the capital city of Damascus and looted his personal belongings on Sunday (Dec. 8). Several videos circulated on social media showed locals freely entering the presidential palace.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An X user shared a video saying, "Citizens entered Assad's palace and started looting it." Another wrote, "Syrian people enter Assad's 'People's Palace,' following his ouster."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="ca">🚨 Opposition Forces Enter Presidential Palace<br />
<br />
عاجل: الثوار يدخلون القصر الرئاسي في دمشق<br />
<br />
• Opposition officially in control<br />
• Assad's historic seat of power captured<br />
• End of 53-year Assad dynasty rule<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Damascus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Damascus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Syria</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Breaking?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Breaking</a> <a href="https://t.co/08HNCDSqq0">pic.twitter.com/08HNCDSqq0</a></p>
— BLKBRD Broadcasting (@blkbrdbroadcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/blkbrdbroadcast/status/1865642207384145953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Not just the palace, videos also emerged showing the statue of Assad being destroyed by people. Videos showed the statue being dragged by locals.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 Assad statues are being toppled in Damascus and across Syria<br />
<br />
<a href="https://t.co/PCWod74Kec">pic.twitter.com/PCWod74Kec</a></p>
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1865647515044827390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sharing the video, one wrote on X, "A profoundly symbolic moment for Syria: the toppling of Assad’s statue in Homs after the rebels took control, facing little resistance. Homs is regarded as the capital of the Syrian revolution that began in 2011 &amp; suffered one of the most brutal crackdowns."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Syrian citizens freely entering Bashar al-Assad's Presidential Palace in Damascus 👇 <a href="https://t.co/UWa8L90Fjk">pic.twitter.com/UWa8L90Fjk</a></p>
— Lucifer (@krishnakamal077) <a href="https://twitter.com/krishnakamal077/status/1865644138726896124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrias-assad-left-country-gave-orders-for-peaceful-power-handover-russias-foreign-ministry-782465">Syria's Assad left country, gave orders for peaceful power handover: Russia's foreign ministry</a></strong></p>

<p>After the looting, Syrians, including women, children and men were seen touring the palace.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I came for revenge; they oppressed us in incredible ways," a Syrian man told AFP.</p>

<p>AFP reported that the statues of Assad's father were also destroyed by Syrians.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This came just before Russia announced that Assad had left the country and ordered a peaceful handover of power in Syria.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on December 8, "As a result of negotiations between B Assad and several participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The statement further said that Moscow was extremely worried by the events in Syria and urged all the parties to refrain from violence in the region.<br />
<br />
"We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means," the ministry said.<br />
<br />
"In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition," it further added in the statement.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


As Syrian President Bashar al-Asad fled the country, Syrians stormed into his palace in the capital city of Damascus and looted his personal belongings on Sunday (Dec.

As Syrian President Bashar al-Asad fled the country, Syrians stormed into his palace in the capital city of Damascus and looted his personal belongings on Sunday (Dec. 8). Several videos circulated on social media showed locals freely entering the presidential palace. An X user shared a video saying, "Citizens entered Assad's palace and started looting it." Another wrote, "Syrian people enter Assad's 'People's Palace,' following his ouster." 🚨 Opposition Forces Enter Presidential Palace عاجل: الثوار يدخلون القصر الرئاسي في دمشق • Opposition officially in control • Assad's historic seat of power captured • End of 53-year Assad dynasty rule#Damascus #Syria #Breaking pic.twitter.com/08HNCDSqq0 — BLKBRD Broadcasting (@blkbrdbroadcast) December 8, 2024 × Not just the palace, videos also emerged showing the statue of Assad being destroyed by people. Videos showed the statue being dragged by locals. 🚨 Assad statues are being toppled in Damascus and across Syria pic.twitter.com/PCWod74Kec — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 8, 2024 × Sharing the video, one wrote on X, "A profoundly symbolic moment for Syria: the toppling of Assad’s statue in Homs after the rebels took control, facing little resistance. Homs is regarded as the capital of the Syrian revolution that began in 2011 & suffered one of the most brutal crackdowns." Syrian citizens freely entering Bashar al-Assad's Presidential Palace in Damascus 👇 pic.twitter.com/UWa8L90Fjk — Lucifer (@krishnakamal077) December 8, 2024 × Also read | Syria's Assad left country, gave orders for peaceful power handover: Russia's foreign ministry After the looting, Syrians, including women, children and men were seen touring the palace. "I came for revenge; they oppressed us in incredible ways," a Syrian man told AFP. AFP reported that the statues of Assad's father were also destroyed by Syrians. This came just before Russia announced that Assad had left the country and ordered a peaceful handover of power in Syria. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on December 8, "As a result of negotiations between B Assad and several participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations". The statement further said that Moscow was extremely worried by the events in Syria and urged all the parties to refrain from violence in the region. "We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means," the ministry said. "In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition," it further added in the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Syrians tour Assad's palace after looting his belongings

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<p>Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he told US President-elect Donald Trump that Kyiv needed an "enduring" peace that Russia will not "destroy" in the future after they met in Paris for talks on the almost three-year war.</p>

<p>Trump had earlier said Zelensky was keen for a "deal" and called for the start of negotiations.</p>

<p>The pair met a day earlier with French leader Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.</p>

<p>Trump has boasted he could end the conflict swiftly without saying how, and both Moscow and Kyiv are readying for his arrival in the White House, with the dragging conflict seeing an escalation in deadly attacks in recent weeks.</p>

<p>"I stated that we need a just and enduring peace—one that the Russians will not be able to destroy in a few years, as they have done repeatedly in the past," Zelensky said on social media.</p>

<p>Almost three years of war have ravaged Ukraine, leaving thousands dead and millions fleeing the country.</p>

<p>"Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land, and it is Russia that most seeks to disrupt the possibility of peace," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Russian Attack Kills 11 In Zaporizhzhia</strong></p>

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<p>He called on Western allies not to "turn a blind eye to occupation" and said Kyiv would only agree to a deal that would bring long-term peace.</p>

<p>"War cannot be endless -- only peace must be permanent and reliable," he said.</p>

<p>In a rare admission of numbers, Zelensky said 43,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed in combat, while some 370,000 were wounded.</p>

<p>Both sides are believed to have suffered massive casualties, and that figure is believed to be far higher.</p>

<h2>'Key conditions' discussed&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Zelensky gave no concrete details on key aspects of what negotiations could look like, but a senior Ukrainian official said they had discussed "some key conditions" for ending the war.</p>

<p>"We are not disclosing details, but the presidents discussed at the meeting that there should be something that would guarantee the reliability of the peace," the source said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Kremlin, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of "refusing" to negotiate an end to the war and said its conditions to enter peace talks -- which include Kyiv giving up four regions -- remain unchanged.</p>

<p>"The Ukrainian side refused and is refusing negotiation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.</p>

<p>He referred to a 2022 Ukrainian decree that ruled out talks with Putin, but not other Russian officials.</p>

<p>Trump had earlier called for an "immediate ceasefire" and called for talks to begin.</p>

<p>"Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.</p>

<p>Trump has touted himself as having good relations with Putin.</p>

<h2>'How long can we be at war?'</h2>

<p>But as leaders made statements in Kyiv, Moscow, and Paris, the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine remained dire.</p>

<p>Moscow claimed another village in the east -- Blagodatne in the Donetsk region -- on Sunday, pressing steady gains.</p>

<p>Many in Ukraine have feared that Trump's taking office would force it to make heart-aching concessions to Russia, while the nation is also suffering exhaustion.</p>

<p>In the village of Osynovo in the eastern Kharkiv region, news of the meeting between Trump and Zelensky offered some hope to one of the frontline village's last remaining residents, Mykola Lytvynov.</p>

<p>Cleaning earth from vegetables in his backyard, the 80-year-old said he hoped the meeting could help bring about a negotiated end to the conflict.</p>

<p>"How long can we be at war? So many people have been killed, so many young people. And you see the massive level of destruction," he told AFP.</p>

<p>He suggested Ukraine could have retained more of its territory by already entering into talks with Russia, but said he hoped for an end to the fighting for another, personal reason.</p>

<p>"Both my sons are fighting. I just want them&nbsp;to&nbsp;survive."</p>

<p>Ukraine also said that two civilians were killed in the Donetsk region and that seven people were wounded by attacks in the southern Kherson region.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he told US President-elect Donald Trump that Kyiv needed an "enduring" peace that Russia will not "destroy" in the future after they met in Paris for talks on the almost three-year war.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he told US President-elect Donald Trump that Kyiv needed an "enduring" peace that Russia will not "destroy" in the future after they met in Paris for talks on the almost three-year war. Trump had earlier said Zelensky was keen for a "deal" and called for the start of negotiations. The pair met a day earlier with French leader Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. Trump has boasted he could end the conflict swiftly without saying how, and both Moscow and Kyiv are readying for his arrival in the White House, with the dragging conflict seeing an escalation in deadly attacks in recent weeks. "I stated that we need a just and enduring peace—one that the Russians will not be able to destroy in a few years, as they have done repeatedly in the past," Zelensky said on social media. Almost three years of war have ravaged Ukraine, leaving thousands dead and millions fleeing the country. "Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land, and it is Russia that most seeks to disrupt the possibility of peace," he said. Watch | Russian Attack Kills 11 In Zaporizhzhia × He called on Western allies not to "turn a blind eye to occupation" and said Kyiv would only agree to a deal that would bring long-term peace. "War cannot be endless -- only peace must be permanent and reliable," he said. In a rare admission of numbers, Zelensky said 43,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed in combat, while some 370,000 were wounded. Both sides are believed to have suffered massive casualties, and that figure is believed to be far higher. 'Key conditions' discussed Zelensky gave no concrete details on key aspects of what negotiations could look like, but a senior Ukrainian official said they had discussed "some key conditions" for ending the war. "We are not disclosing details, but the presidents discussed at the meeting that there should be something that would guarantee the reliability of the peace," the source said. The Kremlin, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of "refusing" to negotiate an end to the war and said its conditions to enter peace talks -- which include Kyiv giving up four regions -- remain unchanged. "The Ukrainian side refused and is refusing negotiation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He referred to a 2022 Ukrainian decree that ruled out talks with Putin, but not other Russian officials. Trump had earlier called for an "immediate ceasefire" and called for talks to begin. "Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump has touted himself as having good relations with Putin. 'How long can we be at war?' But as leaders made statements in Kyiv, Moscow, and Paris, the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine remained dire. Moscow claimed another village in the east -- Blagodatne in the Donetsk region -- on Sunday, pressing steady gains. Many in Ukraine have feared that Trump's taking office would force it to make heart-aching concessions to Russia, while the nation is also suffering exhaustion. In the village of Osynovo in the eastern Kharkiv region, news of the meeting between Trump and Zelensky offered some hope to one of the frontline village's last remaining residents, Mykola Lytvynov. Cleaning earth from vegetables in his backyard, the 80-year-old said he hoped the meeting could help bring about a negotiated end to the conflict. "How long can we be at war? So many people have been killed, so many young people. And you see the massive level of destruction," he told AFP. He suggested Ukraine could have retained more of its territory by already entering into talks with Russia, but said he hoped for an end to the fighting for another, personal reason. "Both my sons are fighting. I just want them to survive." Ukraine also said that two civilians were killed in the Donetsk region and that seven people were wounded by attacks in the southern Kherson region. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Zelensky says Kyiv wants 'enduring' peace to protect it from Russia

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Syria Civil War: Bashar Al-Assad Flees as Rebels Declare Victory in Syria

Syria Civil War: Neighboring Countries Tighten Borders as Syria Collapses

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<p>Syrians around the country on Sunday toppled and trampled on statues of President Bashar al-Assad's late father Hafez, who founded the brutal system of government that his son inherited.</p>

<p>In the capital Damascus, people cheered as they stood on a toppled statue of former president Hafez al-Assad, in a highly symbolic moment for a country ruled with an iron fist for five decades by his clan.</p>

<p>The scenes came as Islamist-led rebels declared Bashar al-Assad had fled the country following a lightning offensive that wrested city after city from his control, culminating with their arrival in Damascus.</p>

<p>After five decades in power, most Syrians are too young to remember a time when the country was not ruled by the Assads.</p>

<p>Even prior to the rebels' declaration of the fall of Damascus, statues of Hafez al-Assad had been toppled in other cities around the country.</p>

<p>The images recalled footage from Iraq in 2003, when a US-armoured vehicle toppled a statue of former dictator Saddam Hussein with the help of a crowd of jubilant Iraqis on the day Baghdad fell to a US-led military coalition.</p>

<p>In Jaramana, in the suburbs of Damascus, protesters brought down a statue of the late Syrian leader, cheering, applauding, and chanting as it came down, according to images posted on social media and verified by AFP.</p>

<p>In Aleppo in northern Syria, images showed people toppling a statue of Bashar al-Assad's brother Bassel as well as one of their father.</p>

<p>In Daraa in southern Syria, the cradle of the 2011 uprising, online images verified by AFP showed a rebel fighter driving a motorcycle down a road and dragging a toppled statue of Hafez al-Assad behind him.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Russia Confirms Syrian President Assad Resigned After Talks With Stakeholders</strong></p>

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<p>The large metal statue appeared to be light enough to pull because it was hollow.</p>

<p>In the port city of Tartus, resident Oday al-Khatib told AFP that protesters destroyed a statue of the former president.</p>

<p>The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor confirmed that Tartus residents had "destroyed a statue of Hafez al-Assad in the city", and another in Latakia, also on the Syrian coast, a stronghold of the Assad clan's Alawite minority.</p>

<h2>'Freedom'&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Bashar al-Assad ruled Syria from 2000, when he inherited power from his father.</p>

<p>Since 2011, he oversaw the crackdown on the democracy movement that began with peaceful protests.</p>

<p>The Assad government's repression of the protests morphed into one of the bloodiest wars of the century, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing millions.</p>

<p>Hafez al-Assad took power in a 1970 coup and set up a paranoid and brutal regime under which anyone suspected of dissent could be jailed or killed.</p>

<p>Long after his death, his statues and image remained a powerful symbol of the Assad clan's grip over Syria.</p>

<p>His photograph was pasted on walls, institutions, offices, and schools around the country, often side by side with his son's.</p>

<p>In the city of Hama, the site of a 1982 massacre by the army, rebels cheered earlier this week as they brought down a statue of Assad as they seized the city.</p>

<p>Young men celebrated the rebels' takeover of Hama, yelling "freedom for eternity".</p>

<p>Fighters there also paraded down one of the city's wide streets in vehicles that appeared to be stained completely brown from desert dust, past a building bearing a mural of Bashar al-Assad.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Syrians around the country on Sunday toppled and trampled on statues of President Bashar al-Assad's late father Hafez, who founded the brutal system of government that his son inherited.

Syrians around the country on Sunday toppled and trampled on statues of President Bashar al-Assad's late father Hafez, who founded the brutal system of government that his son inherited. In the capital Damascus, people cheered as they stood on a toppled statue of former president Hafez al-Assad, in a highly symbolic moment for a country ruled with an iron fist for five decades by his clan. The scenes came as Islamist-led rebels declared Bashar al-Assad had fled the country following a lightning offensive that wrested city after city from his control, culminating with their arrival in Damascus. After five decades in power, most Syrians are too young to remember a time when the country was not ruled by the Assads. Even prior to the rebels' declaration of the fall of Damascus, statues of Hafez al-Assad had been toppled in other cities around the country. The images recalled footage from Iraq in 2003, when a US-armoured vehicle toppled a statue of former dictator Saddam Hussein with the help of a crowd of jubilant Iraqis on the day Baghdad fell to a US-led military coalition. In Jaramana, in the suburbs of Damascus, protesters brought down a statue of the late Syrian leader, cheering, applauding, and chanting as it came down, according to images posted on social media and verified by AFP. In Aleppo in northern Syria, images showed people toppling a statue of Bashar al-Assad's brother Bassel as well as one of their father. In Daraa in southern Syria, the cradle of the 2011 uprising, online images verified by AFP showed a rebel fighter driving a motorcycle down a road and dragging a toppled statue of Hafez al-Assad behind him. Watch | Russia Confirms Syrian President Assad Resigned After Talks With Stakeholders × The large metal statue appeared to be light enough to pull because it was hollow. In the port city of Tartus, resident Oday al-Khatib told AFP that protesters destroyed a statue of the former president. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor confirmed that Tartus residents had "destroyed a statue of Hafez al-Assad in the city", and another in Latakia, also on the Syrian coast, a stronghold of the Assad clan's Alawite minority. 'Freedom' Bashar al-Assad ruled Syria from 2000, when he inherited power from his father. Since 2011, he oversaw the crackdown on the democracy movement that began with peaceful protests. The Assad government's repression of the protests morphed into one of the bloodiest wars of the century, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing millions. Hafez al-Assad took power in a 1970 coup and set up a paranoid and brutal regime under which anyone suspected of dissent could be jailed or killed. Long after his death, his statues and image remained a powerful symbol of the Assad clan's grip over Syria. His photograph was pasted on walls, institutions, offices, and schools around the country, often side by side with his son's. In the city of Hama, the site of a 1982 massacre by the army, rebels cheered earlier this week as they brought down a statue of Assad as they seized the city. Young men celebrated the rebels' takeover of Hama, yelling "freedom for eternity". Fighters there also paraded down one of the city's wide streets in vehicles that appeared to be stained completely brown from desert dust, past a building bearing a mural of Bashar al-Assad. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Syrians topple and trample on statues of Assad's father

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The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had stepped down from office and left the country, following his directive for a peaceful transfer of power. Watch for more details!

BREAKING: Russia Confirms Syrian President Assad Resigned After Talks With Stakeholders

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<p>Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left the country after having given orders for a peaceful handover of power, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday (Dec. 8). Clarifying that Russia has not taken part in talks of his departure, the ministry released a statement but did not say where Assad has fled to.</p>

<p>"As a result of negotiations between B Assad and several participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations," the ministry said.</p>

<p>The statement further said that Moscow was extremely worried by the events in Syria and urged all the parties to refrain from violence in the region.</p>

<p>"We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means," the ministry said.</p>

<p>"In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition," it further added in the statement.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Syrian Rebels Seize Damascus, Marking End of Assad's Rule</strong></p>

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<p>The ministry further said that Russia's military bases in Syria have been put on high alert, but there is no threat to them as of now.</p>

<h2>Israeli strikes in Syria&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Multiple Israeli airstrikes were reported in Daraa and Suwayda areas in southern Syria on Sunday (Dec. 8), reported Syrian media.&nbsp;The strikes were reported near the Syria-Israel border and also at the Mezzeh airbase near the capital Damascus.</p>

<p>The strikes targeted ammunition and weapons depots at the Khalkhalah airbase in Suwaydam, The Times of Israel reported.</p>

<p>No immediate comment was given by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Earlier, IDF said it was tracking weapons in Syria and ensuring they do not reach Hezbollah or any other elements to prevent any kind of threat to Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Israeli strikes came after Syrian rebel factions announced on state television that they had successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and had freed "unjustly detained" prisoners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The development came after a wave of intense clashes and strategic advancements by the rebel forces in Damascus and surrounding areas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left the country after having given orders for a peaceful handover of power, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday (Dec.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left the country after having given orders for a peaceful handover of power, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday (Dec. 8). Clarifying that Russia has not taken part in talks of his departure, the ministry released a statement but did not say where Assad has fled to. "As a result of negotiations between B Assad and several participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations," the ministry said. The statement further said that Moscow was extremely worried by the events in Syria and urged all the parties to refrain from violence in the region. "We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means," the ministry said. "In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition," it further added in the statement. Watch | Syrian Rebels Seize Damascus, Marking End of Assad's Rule × The ministry further said that Russia's military bases in Syria have been put on high alert, but there is no threat to them as of now. Israeli strikes in Syria Multiple Israeli airstrikes were reported in Daraa and Suwayda areas in southern Syria on Sunday (Dec. 8), reported Syrian media. The strikes were reported near the Syria-Israel border and also at the Mezzeh airbase near the capital Damascus. The strikes targeted ammunition and weapons depots at the Khalkhalah airbase in Suwaydam, The Times of Israel reported. No immediate comment was given by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Earlier, IDF said it was tracking weapons in Syria and ensuring they do not reach Hezbollah or any other elements to prevent any kind of threat to Israel. The Israeli strikes came after Syrian rebel factions announced on state television that they had successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and had freed "unjustly detained" prisoners. In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property. The development came after a wave of intense clashes and strategic advancements by the rebel forces in Damascus and surrounding areas. (With inputs from agencies)

Syria's Assad left country, gave orders for peaceful power handover: Russia's foreign ministry

<p>Multiple Israeli airstrikes were reported in Daraa and Suwayda areas in southern Syria on Sunday (Dec. 8), Syrian media reported. The strikes were reported near the Syria-Israel border and also at the Mezzeh airbase near the capital Damascus.</p>

<p>The strikes targeted ammunition and weapons depots at the Khalkhalah airbase in Suwaydam, reported The Times of Israel.</p>

<p>No immediate comment was given by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Earlier, IDF said it was tracking weapons in Syria and ensuring they do not reach Hezbollah or any other elements to prevent any kind of threat to Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Israeli strikes came just after Syrian rebel factions announced on state television that they had successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and had freed "unjustly detained" prisoners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The development came after a wave of intense clashes and strategic advancements by the rebel forces in Damascus and surrounding areas.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Syrian Rebels Seize Damascus, Marking End of Assad's Rule</strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>A group of individuals appeared on state television and made the announcement of "the liberation of the city of Damascus and the fall of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad and the release of all the unjustly detained from the regime prisons", reading a statement from the "Damascus Conquest operations room".</p>

<p>The rebels called on fighters and citizens to safeguard the "property of the free Syrian state".&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Opposition flag unfurled&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The reports also came that the Syrian opposition flag was unfurled at the Syrian embassy in Athens, Greece. It was hours after the Islamic rebels declared the end of the Assad regime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, Iran's embassy in Syria was also attacked on the same day.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Multiple Israeli airstrikes were reported in Daraa and Suwayda areas in southern Syria on Sunday (Dec. 8), Syrian media reported. The strikes were reported near the Syria-Israel border and also at the Mezzeh airbase near the capital Damascus.

Multiple Israeli airstrikes were reported in Daraa and Suwayda areas in southern Syria on Sunday (Dec. 8), Syrian media reported. The strikes were reported near the Syria-Israel border and also at the Mezzeh airbase near the capital Damascus. The strikes targeted ammunition and weapons depots at the Khalkhalah airbase in Suwaydam, reported The Times of Israel. No immediate comment was given by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Earlier, IDF said it was tracking weapons in Syria and ensuring they do not reach Hezbollah or any other elements to prevent any kind of threat to Israel. The Israeli strikes came just after Syrian rebel factions announced on state television that they had successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and had freed "unjustly detained" prisoners. In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property. The development came after a wave of intense clashes and strategic advancements by the rebel forces in Damascus and surrounding areas. Watch | Syrian Rebels Seize Damascus, Marking End of Assad's Rule × A group of individuals appeared on state television and made the announcement of "the liberation of the city of Damascus and the fall of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad and the release of all the unjustly detained from the regime prisons", reading a statement from the "Damascus Conquest operations room". The rebels called on fighters and citizens to safeguard the "property of the free Syrian state". Opposition flag unfurled The reports also came that the Syrian opposition flag was unfurled at the Syrian embassy in Athens, Greece. It was hours after the Islamic rebels declared the end of the Assad regime. Furthermore, Iran's embassy in Syria was also attacked on the same day. (With inputs from agencies)

Multiple Israeli airstrikes reported in southern Syria targeting airbases

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<p>In 2011, a 14-year-old boy named Mouawiya Syasneh did a rebellious act against an authoritarian regime in the streets of Daraa, southern Syria. He spray-painted a wall with the words, "Ejak el door, ya doctor" (It's your turn, Doctor), which sparked a civil war in the region, leading to reshaping the country's destiny. The spray painting was for President Bashar al-Assad, and it was a reference to his medical background.</p>

<p>The graffiti was born out of years of frustration, as it was a way to express themselves for Mouawiya and his friends, who were abused by the authoritarian police. But that act of rebellion against Assad's regime brought a brutal response.</p>

<p>Police detained Mouawiya and his friends for 26 days, tortured them, and thrashed&nbsp;them. Their parents and residents protested their arrest, but in response, they were targeted with tear gas and bullets.</p>

<p>The boys' arrest became a rallying cry as protests erupted not only in Daraa but across entire Syria.</p>

<p>March 15, 2011, was the day Syria experienced its first coordinated "Day of Rage," which transformed local unrest into a nationwide moment. The demands were: freedom and an end to Assad's regime.</p>

<h2>Emergence of extremist groups</h2>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Syrian Rebels Claim to Have Captured Damascus, Saying President Assad Has Fled</strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The response that came against the moment was brutal. Peaceful protesters were fired at openly by security forces. Countless Syrians were arrested and tortured. The moment was inspired by the Arab Spring (an anti-government protest across the Arab world). Eventually, it turned into a bloody conflict as opposition forces came into the picture in response to the Assad regime's brutality.</p>

<p>In July 2011, defectors from Assad's military formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA). However, they lacked unity and funding. Taking advantage of this, extremist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and eventually the Islamic State flourished in the region.</p>

<h2>Present scenario</h2>

<p>After 12 years, Syrian rebel factions announced on Sunday (Dec. 8) on state television that they have successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and have freed "unjustly detained" prisoners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In 2011, a 14-year-old boy named Mouawiya Syasneh did a rebellious act against an authoritarian regime in the streets of Daraa, southern Syria. He spray-painted a wall with the words, "Ejak el door, ya doctor" (It's your turn, Doctor), which sparked a civil war in the region, leading to reshaping the country's destiny.

In 2011, a 14-year-old boy named Mouawiya Syasneh did a rebellious act against an authoritarian regime in the streets of Daraa, southern Syria. He spray-painted a wall with the words, "Ejak el door, ya doctor" (It's your turn, Doctor), which sparked a civil war in the region, leading to reshaping the country's destiny. The spray painting was for President Bashar al-Assad, and it was a reference to his medical background. The graffiti was born out of years of frustration, as it was a way to express themselves for Mouawiya and his friends, who were abused by the authoritarian police. But that act of rebellion against Assad's regime brought a brutal response. Police detained Mouawiya and his friends for 26 days, tortured them, and thrashed them. Their parents and residents protested their arrest, but in response, they were targeted with tear gas and bullets. The boys' arrest became a rallying cry as protests erupted not only in Daraa but across entire Syria. March 15, 2011, was the day Syria experienced its first coordinated "Day of Rage," which transformed local unrest into a nationwide moment. The demands were: freedom and an end to Assad's regime. Emergence of extremist groups Watch | Syrian Rebels Claim to Have Captured Damascus, Saying President Assad Has Fled × The response that came against the moment was brutal. Peaceful protesters were fired at openly by security forces. Countless Syrians were arrested and tortured. The moment was inspired by the Arab Spring (an anti-government protest across the Arab world). Eventually, it turned into a bloody conflict as opposition forces came into the picture in response to the Assad regime's brutality. In July 2011, defectors from Assad's military formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA). However, they lacked unity and funding. Taking advantage of this, extremist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and eventually the Islamic State flourished in the region. Present scenario After 12 years, Syrian rebel factions announced on Sunday (Dec. 8) on state television that they have successfully overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and have freed "unjustly detained" prisoners. In their TV address, they referred to Assad as a "tyrant" and also urged for the protection of state property. (With inputs from agencies)

How a 14-year-old's graffiti sparked an uprising that ultimately led to Al-Assad's fall in Syria

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