The Syrian government has fallen and Assad flees Damascus

The Syrian government has fallen and Bashar al-Assad has been ousted ending 24-years of his dictatorship.

Rebel forces said on TV that Assad has been ousted after 13-years of brutal conflict and he fled by plane on Sunday to unknown location.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said in a video message, “I am in my house and I have not left, and this is because of my belonging to this country.”

He added: “I have not left it and do not intend to leave, except in a peaceful manner that ensures the continued functioning of public institutions and state facilities, promoting security and reassurance for our fellow citizens.”

The leader of the rebel forces Abu Muhammed al Jolani, commander of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), declared on state TV that the “future is ours” and there is “no room for turning back” and they are “determined” to continue on their path that they started in 2011.

Moscow said that Assad left Damascus after negotiating with the rebel group and the Russian Foreign Ministry is watching what is happening in Syria with “extreme concern.”

Assad negotiated with a “number of participants in the conflict” and he gave “instructions to transfer power peacefully,” the Russian ministry said.