Pinoys in war-torn Syria worry gov’t

The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has called on all concerned parties in Syria to exercise restraint amid the political instability in the Middle Eastern country.

In a statement Sunday, the DFA said it continues to “monitor, with concern,” the ongoing developments in Syria after Islamist-led rebels declared they had taken Damascus in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (See related story, Page 14)

“The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians,” the agency said.

“We express concern regarding the situation of our Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus,” it added.

Syria, which is currently under DFA’s Alert Level 4, is a second home to at least 703 Filipinos. Alert Level 4, or mandatory repatriation is raised when there is a large-scale internal conflict or full-blown external attack in one country.

End of tyranny

Residents in the Syrian capital were seen cheering in the streets, as the rebel factions heralded the departure of “tyrant” Assad, saying: “We declare the city of Damascus free.”

US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had “fled his country” after losing the backing of Russia.

“Assad is gone,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer.”

AFPTV images from Damascus showed rebels firing into the air at sunrise, with some flashing the victory sign and crying “Allahu akbar,” or God is great.

Some climbed atop a tank in celebration, while others defaced a toppled statue of Assad’s father, Hafez.

“I can’t believe I’m living this moment,” tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha told AFP by phone. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this day,” he said, adding: “We are starting a new history for Syria.”

The president’s alleged departure, which was also reported by a war monitor, comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched its campaign challenging more than five decades of rule by the Assad family.

Rooted in Al-Qaeda

HTS is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda. Proscribed as a terrorist organization by Western governments, it has sought to soften its image in recent years, and told minority groups living in areas they now control not to worry.

Since the offensive began, at least 826 people, mostly combatants but also including 111 civilians, have been killed, the Observatory said.

The United Nations said the violence has displaced 370,000 people.

“After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and (forced) displacement... we announce today the end of this dark period and the start of a new era for Syria,” the rebel factions said on Telegram.

Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali said he was ready to cooperate with “any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.”

The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP: “Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left” the facility.

AFP was unable to immediately confirm the report.

HTS said their fighters broke into a jail on the outskirts of the capital, announcing an “end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya,” which has become a by-word for the darkest abuses of Assad’s era.

The rapid developments in Damascus came only hours after HTS said they had captured the strategic city of Homs, on the way to the capital.

The defense ministry earlier denied that rebels had entered Homs, describing the situation there as “safe and stable.”

Hezbollah fighters leave

Homs lies about 140 kilometers (85 miles) from the capital and was the third major city seized by the rebels, who began their advance on 27 November, reigniting a years-long war that had become largely dormant.

US President Joe Biden was keeping a close eye on the “extraordinary events” unfolding in Syria, the White House said.

Monitoring the events in Damascus, the Britain-based Observatory confirmed “the doors of the infamous “Sednaya” prison... have been opened for thousands of detainees who were imprisoned by the security apparatus throughout the regime’s rule.”

Assad’s government had previously denied the army had withdrawn from areas around Damascus. His rule has for years been backed by Lebanese Hezbollah, whose forces “vacated their positions around Damascus,” a source close to the group said early Sunday.