Putin’s butcher pal Assad ‘FLEES Syria’ as rebels ‘seize’ Damascus in lightning blitz as PM ‘ready to hand over’

SYRIA’S government has fallen in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after rebels seized Damascus in a lightning blitz.

Assad fled the country in a plane early Sunday as the butcher’s rule was overthrown by the militants in just 10 days.

AFP

People celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus[/caption]

The country’s prime minister said the regime was now preparing to hand over its operations to the rebels.

Footage circulating online showed fighters escorting the PM from his home to their headquarters set up in a hotel.

Last night, opposition forces also seized control the key city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as government forces abandoned it.

It was the first time opposition forces had reached Damascus since 2018 when Syrian troops recaptured areas on the outskirts of the capital following a years-long siege.

The rapidly developing events have shaken the region.

Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus.

Jordan also closed a border crossing with Syria.

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