BREAKING: Syrian Capital Of Damascus Falls To Al-Qaeda Offshoot, Assad Reportedly Flees Country

Militants with Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — an islamist group that was formerly the official Al-Qaeda offshoot in Syria before rebranding in the mid-2010’s — have occupied the Syrian capital of Damascus after a lightening offensive across government territory over the last two weeks.

Late last month, HTS rapidly advanced from their stronghold in Idlib, located on the border with Turkey in Northwestern Syria, and occupied the nation’s second largest city of Aleppo. The city was the site of one of the most fierce battles of the 21st century from the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2012 until rebel groups were expelled in 2016.

Russian air power and support from Iran and its proxies such as Hezbollah played a key role in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s hold on the country, presenting an opportunity for HTS with both countries occupied with other conflicts.