Rebel fighters in Syria announced they entered the capital city of Damascus on Sunday, after seizing control of several other cities as part of the effort to take down President Bashar al-Assad.
Just before dawn, insurgents appeared to be entering the city, according to photos and videos posted on social media.
The development is the latest in the offensive movement that Syrian rebels ignited less than two weeks ago in an attempt to challenge al-Assad’s rule which has been a conflict since 2011.
The Syrian government did not give an official statement immediately.
It is unclear if al-Assad is still in Damascus at this time. The government has denied rumors he has fled the country.
Just hours early, rebels announced they had “fully liberated” the city of Homs – a major intersection point between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, where al-Assad enjoys wide support and where his Russian allies have a naval base and airbase.
Government forces were forced to withdraw from Damascus International Airport, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday. No flights appeared to be going in or out of the airport, according to FlightRadar24.
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