Stunning Fall: Assad Family's 54-Year Reign Ends in Syria

The Assad family's 54-year authoritarian rule has come to an end in Syria. Rebels took control of the capital of Damascus without a fight, and President Bashar al-Assad is nowhere to be seen, reports the BBC. Russia's foreign ministry confirmed Sunday that Assad had resigned and left his country, though it did not say where he went, reports the New York Times.

• Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Assad flew out of Damascus early Sunday, reports the AP. Assad ruled the country for nearly 25 years after being elected in 2000 upon the death of his father, Hafez Assad. The elder Assad gained power in a bloodless coup in 1970.
• Leaders of Syria's army informed officers that the Assad regime is over, reports Reuters. And rebels declared that Syria is "free of the tyrant" on Telegram. Meanwhile, thousands were gathering at a main square in the capital in celebration.
• Syria's prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, told the nation in a video address that he would remain in his post and work with whatever new government emerges. "We extend our hand even to the opposition who extended their hand and confirmed that they will not harm any person who belongs to the Syrian homeland," he said, per the Washington Post.

• The main rebel group behind the lightning-fast military movement to topple Assad—Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS—says it will work with the prime minister on a transition and instructed rebel forces to steer clear of government institutions until they are formally turned over, per the New York Times. HTS broke with al-Qaeda in 2016, though they are still considered a terrorist group by the US. Other rebel factions operate elsewhere in the nation. Assad had long been allied with Russia and Iran. Read more about all this here.
• Rebels freed prisoners from Saydnaya Prison north of the capital, notorious for its brutality to Assad's opponents, according to multiple outlets. The takeover of Damascus came after anti-Assad forces took the major cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.

(This summary was updated with new developments.)