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Following the defeat of government forces loyal to the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, in a matter of days, rebel fighters claimed to have taken control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, early on Sunday. The 13-year civil war that has devastated the ancient land will enter a new phase with the rebels' claim. "We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad," said Hassan Abdul-Ghani, the senior commander of the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, in a WhatsApp post. "To the displaced people around the world, Free Syria awaits you." The rebel's assertion has not been independently verified by NBC News. It was not immediately clear where Assad was. Abdul-Ghani claimed that Assad had escaped, and several media outlets say that he has departed Damascus...

Following the defeat of government forces loyal to the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, in a matter of days, rebel fighters claimed to have taken control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, early on Sunday. The 13-year civil war that has devastated the ancient land will enter a new phase with the rebels' claim. "We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad," said Hassan Abdul-Ghani, the senior commander of the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, in a WhatsApp post. "To the displaced people around the world, Free Syria awaits you." The rebel's assertion has not been independently verified by NBC News. It was not immediately clear where Assad was. Abdul-Ghani claimed that Assad had escaped, and several media outlets say that he has departed Damascus...

Following the defeat of government forces loyal to the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, in a matter of days, rebel fighters claimed to have taken control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, early on Sunday. The 13-year civil war that has devastated the ancient land will enter a new phase with the rebels' claim. "We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad," said Hassan Abdul-Ghani, the senior commander of the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, in a WhatsApp post. "To the displaced people around the world, Free Syria awaits you." The rebel's assertion has not been independently verified by NBC News. It was not immediately clear where Assad was. Abdul-Ghani claimed that Assad had escaped, and several media outlets say that he has departed Damascus...

Following the defeat of government forces loyal to the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, in a matter of days, rebel fighters claimed to have taken control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, early on Sunday. The 13-year civil war that has devastated the ancient land will enter a new phase with the rebels' claim. "We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad," said Hassan Abdul-Ghani, the senior commander of the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, in a WhatsApp post. "To the displaced people around the world, Free Syria awaits you." The rebel's assertion has not been independently verified by NBC News. It was not immediately clear where Assad was. He has reportedly fled Damascus, according to several media reports. His whereabouts and departure have...