In a seismic shift that marks the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s family rule, Syrian rebels declared on Sunday that they had seized control of Damascus, forcing the embattled leader to flee the capital. This historic moment brings hope for ending more than 13 years of civil war that has ravaged Syria and drawn in multiple foreign powers.

Several rebellion factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), claimed victory after entering the capital with no apparent resistance from Assad’s forces. Witnesses reported crowds of Syrians celebrating in the streets, waving flags and chanting “Freedom” in a powerful display of defiance against the Assad regime.

Celebrations erupted at the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, where rebels entered and freed prisoners held by the government. “We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains,” a rebel commander declared.

After the collapse of Assad regime, Iran’s embassy was stormed by rebels on Sunday, while Hezbollah, another key Assad ally, withdrew all forces from Syria ahead of the rebel advance. This marks the end of a long period of foreign military support for Assad.

While Assad has reportedly fled the country, his whereabouts, as well as those of his wife and children, remain unknown.

Looking ahead, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali called for free elections and pledged to work with rebel leaders to manage the transition.

Despite the euphoric scenes in Damascus, experts caution that the path to peace will be fraught with difficulties as rival factions vie for control of the country.