The 7 days that ended 50 years of Assad's rule – in maps

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The Assad household has dominated Syria for greater than 50 years. However fueled by the perceived weak point of presidency allies, insurgent teams gained a lightning victory, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee.

Right here's how many years of rule collapsed in a single week:

Earlier than December: Assad presides over a fractured nation

Assad's regime has been closely depending on international forces from Russia, Iran and Iranian-backed militants within the 13 years since a mass rebellion became civil battle. Though the federal government has regained management of many of the nation, a worrying standoff has left insurgent enclaves within the north and northwest.

December 2: Rebels head south from Idlib

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist motion, launched a shock offensive on Monday from its stronghold of Idlib, within the northwest, seizing Aleppo, Syria's second metropolis, inside days. HTS rebels then moved south, focusing on the city of Hama.

December 3: Rebels attain the outskirts of Hama

On Tuesday, the rebels have been share selfies Taken on the outskirts of Hama, a city the place Assad's father brutally suppressed an rebellion in 1982.

December 4: new territorial positive factors

The lightning advance continued on Wednesday, with rebels gaining extra territory east of Hama as town more and more fell below their management.

December 5: Rebels take Hama and Homs turns into subsequent goal

As soon as Hama was secured, the rebels had already gained greater than 11,500 km² of territory on Thursday. They continued on to Homs, the final main metropolis on the path to the capital, Damascus, and thought of an important strategic gateway for the regime.

December 6: Russia warns its residents in Syria

Whereas the rebels are already on the gates of Homs, the Russian embassy in Damascus warned its citizens Friday that they might have to depart Syria.

December 7: Rebels attain Homs and goal the Syrian capital

The Assad regime was quickly dropping floor on a number of fronts on Saturday. Insurgent teams superior on Homs and started operating in direction of Damascus from southern enclaves. As authorities forces retreated, the rebels' momentum appeared nearly unstoppable.

December 8: Rebels invade Damascus, forcing Assad to flee

Within the early hours of Sunday, the rebels captures Damascuslooted the presidential palace and introduced that town was “liberated from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad”, ending greater than 50 years of Assad's rule.