For over five decades, the Assad family ruled Syria with an iron grip. Yet, in a matter of just two weeks, that grip was shattered as rebel forces swiftly captured major cities and forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee the country. The speed and scale of the collapse left the world in shock.
The turning point came on November 27, when rebel forces launched a large-scale offensive against Assad’s troops in western Aleppo. This marked the first significant clash between the two sides in years. Rebels quickly seized 13 villages, including the strategic Base 46, the largest regime military base in the region. Initial speculation suggested the attack was a response to regime shelling, but it soon became clear that something much larger was in motion.
The Fall of Aleppo
On November 30, rebel groups launched a lightning-fast assault on Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city. By dawn, much of the city was in rebel hands. Government forces admitted to a tactical “redeployment,” signaling their retreat. The capture of Aleppo was a symbolic victory for the rebels, marking their return to a city they had lost in 2016.
Momentum Grows: Hama, Daraa, and Homs Fall
Riding on the momentum, rebel forces set their sights on Hama, a key logistical hub linking Damascus to Aleppo. By December 5, government troops retreated, leaving the city in rebel hands. Videos of fighters celebrating in Hama spread rapidly on social media, reflecting the growing belief that Assad’s rule was unraveling.
The next day, the rebels seized Daraa, known as the birthplace of Syria’s 2011 uprising. The fall of Daraa was symbolic and strategic, as it inspired other rebel factions, including those from the Druze community in as-Suwayda, to join the push toward the capital.
On December 7, the rebels achieved another major victory by capturing Homs, one of Syria’s largest cities. Crowds flooded the streets, tearing down Assad’s posters and setting them on fire. By now, rebel forces controlled nearly every major city in western Syria, and all eyes turned to the capital, Damascus.
The Fall of Damascus
On December 8, rebel forces entered Damascus with little resistance. Videos captured jubilant Syrians celebrating in the streets as news spread that Assad had fled to Russia with his family. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani declared the fall of Damascus a victory for “the entire Islamic nation,” while gunfire and celebrations echoed across the capital.
The collapse of Assad’s regime, once seen as unshakable, was swift and dramatic. After 50 years of rule, it took just two weeks for rebel forces to rewrite Syria’s history. The Assad era was over, and a new chapter had begun.
