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Rebel forces stormed through major cities across Syria in less than two weeks, culminating in the apparent downfall of Bashar al-Assad.

After initially promising to fight back, the country’s authoritarian president, who ruled for 24 years, has reportedly fled the capital Damascus.

With key allies Russia and Iran distracted, the government’s defenses crumbled under the weight of insurgent attacks.

Within days, the Assad family’s rule appears to have come to an end, after thirteen years of civil war that has ravaged the country.

Here’s how it unfolded.

November 26 – attack on Aleppo

The rebel attack began last Tuesday and targeted the northern city of Aleppo, which had been in government hands since 2016.

November 30: Capture of Aleppo

The Syrian army announced a withdrawal from the city and claimed they were preparing for a counter-offensive.

That response was unsuccessful and insurgents controlled Aleppo from then on.

December 1: The regime strikes back

Syrian and Russian air forces began bombing rebels and their supply lines, with Assad vowing to defeat them by force.

December 2: bomb attack on Aleppo

The same air forces targeted rebel positions in Aleppo’s eastern countryside the next day, the prime minister’s office said.

Fighting also started in the city of Hama and “hostile” drones were spotted over the key city of Homs, according to state media.

December 3 – Deir el Zor attacks

Attention then turned to the eastern province of Deir el Zor, as rebels pushed into Hama, claiming they had captured villages around the city.

December 5 – Hama captured

The insurgents said they had captured Hama province and claimed to have freed prisoners from the central prison there.

December 6 – Daraa taken back

In a major recapture, rebels said they had captured the southern city of Daraa, once seen as a symbol of the revolution in the early years of the war.

They also announced they had reached the borders of the main western city of Homs and called on forces loyal to the government to defect.

Read more:
Who are the Syrian rebels?
Dark clouds in sight for Syria

December 7 – Rebels close in

The offensive picked up the pace on Saturday and swept through the southern towns of Quneitra and Sanamayn.

Rebels also claimed full control of Homs before storming through Damascus, where protesters toppled a statue of the president’s late father.

December 8 – Regime is on the brink

Assad’s long and brutal rule over the country appeared to be coming to an end, with rebels declaring that Damascus is “free of Assad”.