Syrian rebels fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad have entered Damascus as they halted a stunning advance across the country.
Residents of the capital have reported sounds of gunfire and explosions, with the insurgents announcing that they had also liberated the Saydnaya military prison north of the capital.
On Saturday evening local time, opposition forces took over the central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest city, as government forces abandoned it.
The city lies at an important crossroads between Damascus, the capital, and the Syrian coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus – the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base.
The rebels had already captured the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began on November 27.
Assad’s office said earlier on Saturday that the president remained in the capital and continued his duties, but reports have emerged that the president has since fled the country into exile.
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Syria’s prime minister says he will remain at his home in Damascus
Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali has said he has no plans to leave his home in the capital to ensure public institutions continue to function.
He said: “I urge everyone to think rationally and think about the country. We extend our hand to the opposition, who have extended their hand and claimed that they will not harm anyone belonging to this country.”
Thousands take to the streets of central Damascus chanting “Freedom!”
Video footage shared online and verified by Al Jazeera shows several people in Ummayad Square standing on an abandoned military tank.
The group sings in celebration as rebels overrun the capital in the early hours of Sunday morning, local time.
Army officials say Assad has left Damascus as rebels close in
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew from Damascus to an unknown destination on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters.
According to data from the website Flightradar, a Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was reportedly captured by rebels.
The plane initially flew towards the coastal region of Syria, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing from the map.
It is still unclear who exactly was on board the plane.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad listens to a question during an exclusive interview with AFP in the capital Damascus on February 11, 2016
Good evening and welcome to our live report
DailyMail.com will provide live updates this evening as rebel fighters in Syria enter the capital Damascus.
The move brings them to the brink of victory as Syrian forces and their leader, President Bashar al-Assad, appear to flee the crumbling capital.
On Saturday evening local time, opposition forces took the central city of Homs. Syriathe third largest, when government forces left it.
The city lies at an important crossroads between Damascus, the capital, and the Syrian coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus – the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base.
The rebels had already captured the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began on November 27.
Important updates
Army officials say Assad has left Damascus as rebels close in
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