News Brief
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Flees Damascus As Islamist Rebels Enter Capital City
Bashar Al-Assad
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly left Damascus for an undisclosed location amid announcements by rebel groups claiming they are advancing into the capital city.
According to two senior military officials cited by Reuters, President Assad boarded a plane and left for an unknown destination.
A report by news agency AFP, citing a war monitor, stated that Syrian military and security forces had withdrawn from Damascus International Airport.
Quoting a source affiliated with Hezbollah, AFP reported that fighters from a key Assad ally had vacated their positions around Damascus.
The Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham announced that its fighters were advancing into Damascus.
Sednaya is a large military prison on the outskirts of Damascus where the Syrian government detained thousands.
The Islamist rebel group earlier claimed control over Homs, a key city en route to Damascus.
However, the Syrian defence ministry refuted these claims, asserting that the situation in Homs remained "safe and stable."
The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too.
