(MENAFN) Jihadist and anti-government militias have reportedly seized control of Syria’s capital, Damascus, declaring the city "free" from President Bashar Assad's regime. The groups also claim that Assad has fled the capital. According to Reuters, two senior Syrian army officers confirmed that Assad left Damascus on Saturday evening, heading to an undisclosed location. This comes after jihadist forces announced their capture of the vital city of Homs following intense fighting.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad al-Jalali, who has remained in his home, expressed willingness to cooperate with any new leadership chosen by the Syrian people.

The HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), led by a former Al-Qaeda commander, launched a surprise offensive from the Idlib province last week, rapidly advancing through opposition-held territories. The jihadists have already driven Syrian forces out of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Al-Qusayr, near Lebanon’s border.

Meanwhile, the US-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) has captured the ancient city of Palmyra, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), also supported by the US, have taken control of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria.

Since 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a complex civil war, with jihadist groups, particularly those backed by foreign powers, playing a significant role in the opposition’s efforts to overthrow Assad.

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