DAMASCUS: Syria was captured by rebel forces the other day, ending a quarter-century of dictatorship. President Bashar al-Assad fled the country to Moscow with his family. Meanwhile, neighboring Israel has carried out heavy bombing in Syria. Israel has destroyed weapons storage facilities in Syria. This move was to prevent these from falling into the hands of the rebels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Bashar's ouster was a direct result of their action against Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a direct supporter of Assad. Netanyahu indicated that the rebel movement is a chain reaction achieved by those who wanted to be freed from Bashar's rule. He said that the army's rapid capture of Syrian areas outside Damascus was to ensure that no hostile force was close to Israel's border.
The rebels on Saturday ended the 53-year iron fist rule of the Assad family and the Baath Party's dictatorship. The rebels announced that they would hand over power to an interim government. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, who is cooperating with the rebels, announced that elections would be held. He said he was in contact with rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani in this regard.
The capital, Damascus, was captured by the rebels. Hundreds of rebel prisoners in the notorious Sednaya prison were released. In the 13-year civil war, 350,000 people were killed and millions were on the streets. The rebels entered Damascus without resistance from Bashar's army. At this time, thousands of people shouted slogans of freedom at the city gates.