In pics: Rebels claim victory in Damascus, marking new era in Syrian civil war

The fall of Homs came as a major blow to the Syrian govt as it severed Damascus from the coastal region that is the stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect and where his Russian allies have a naval and air base.

December 8, 2024 12:08 IST

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Syrian rebels, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), claim to have taken full control of Homs, the country's third-largest city, with leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani hailing it as a "historic victory". (AP)

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Syrian opposition fighters ride along the streets in the aftermath of the opposition's takeover of Hama, Syria. (AP)

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Syrian opposition fighters remove a government Syrian flag from an official building in Salamiyah, east of Hama, Syria. (AP)

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Syrian citizens walk in front of the building of the Syrian Central Bank in Damascus, Syria. (AP)

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People gather at Saadallah al-Jabiri Square as they celebrate, after Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters, following a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise, in Aleppo, Syria. (Reuters)

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Syrian opposition fighters drive past a damaged government vehicle south of Hama, Syria. (AP)

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Syrians celebrate the arrival of opposition fighters in Damascus, Syria. (AP)

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Throngs of jubilant Syrians converged on central Damascus, filling the city's squares with cheers and chants against the Assad regime. Car horns blared and, in some neighborhoods, celebratory gunfire echoed through the air as the crowds reveled in the rebel takeover.(AP)