Damascus residents were seen celebrating in footage published on December 8 as rebels declared they had captured the city.“We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” the Military Operations Command wrote in a post on Telegram on December 8.“After 50 years of oppression under Baathist rule and 13 years of criminality, tyranny and displacement, and after a long struggle, confronting all sorts of occupation forces, we declare today, December 8, 2024, the end of that dark era and the start of a new era for Syria,” opposition forces said in a statement.Assad fled Damascus on December 7, Reuters reported citing senior army officers.Syrian officials denied this, saying, “Some foreign media outlets are spreading rumors and false news about President Bashar al-Assad leaving Damascus […] The President continues his work and national and constitutional duties from the capital, Damascus.” Credit: Anonymous via Storyful