STORY: ::December 8, 2024
::Opposition flags are seen across Syria's capital,
as rebels declare they have ousted President Assad
::Damascus, Syria
Gunshots rang out across the Syrian capital as rebel forces and their supporters fired in the air to celebrate the takeover of Damascus.
Assad, who had crushed all forms of dissent, flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters, as rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.
The dramatic collapse marks a seismic moment for the Middle East, dealing a massive blow to Russia and Iran, which have lost a key ally at the heart of the region and creating more uncertainty as the Gaza war rages on.
It marks a turning point for Syria, shattered by more than 13 years of war that has turned cities to rubble, killed hundreds of thousands of people, and forced millions abroad as refugees.
