Syrian rebels topple statues as Assad regime collapses | IN PICS

Syrian rebels declared the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule on Sunday, sparking celebrations across the country. During the historic moment, demonstrators in cities across Syria, including Damascus, Hama and Latakia, toppled statues of Bashar’s father and former president Hafez al-Assad, saying their attacks forced Assad to flee, ending five decades of Assad family rule.

In Damascus, protesters damaged and demolished a statue of Hafez al-Assad near the Presidential Palace, a symbol of the regime's fall. The severed head of the statue could be seen being dragged through the streets by a car, a mob beating it on the back with sticks.

Demonstrators took down another statue of Hafez al-Assad amid chants of “Allahu Akbar” in Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city. There were similar scenes in Latakia, where the crowd documented the moment on their cell phones as they celebrated with gunfire and chants.

Rebels seized control of Syrian state television to announce victory, saying Assad had fled Damascus to an undisclosed location. They also announced the release of political prisoners from Sednaya prison, a notorious military camp near Damascus. “We celebrate the liberation of our prisoners and the end of injustice in Sednaya,” the rebel statement read.

Despite the rebels’ declaration, the Syrian army issued a counter-statement, claiming ongoing operations against “terrorist groups” in Hama, Homs and Deraa. This contradictory narrative has left uncertainty over the regime’s status.

The rapid collapse of the Assad regime has sent shockwaves through the Middle East. With ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the region’s complex alliances involving Russia and Iran, Syria’s future remains uncertain.

After 13 years of war that devastated the country and displaced millions, the rebels’ victory may signal a new chapter for Syria, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges.