Syrians celebrate 'unbelievable news' after Assad toppled

Dozens of Syrians have gathered in Belfast to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime.

Rebels launched a major offensive against the government in Syria, seizing cities in a lightning advance that has expanded the territory under their control.

Former president Bashar al-Assad has fled to Moscow, Russian state media has reported, adding that Assad and his family had been granted asylum.

"We couldn't believe it, the feeling is unbelievable," Renad Soda told BBC News NI.

Renad (right) says she wishes to return to Syria "as soon as possible"

"I couldn't sleep all night watching the news, I'm really happy and I wish I can go back as soon as possible, as soon as everything calms down."

Renad moved to Northern Ireland nine years ago, when she was seven.

She has relatives living in Syria and is looking forward to being reunited with them soon.

"Where I was living was being bombed and it was was dangerous for us, my family just wanted us to be safe," she explained.

"I'm sure that everybody is so happy celebrating this amazing news after so many years."

Dozens of people gathered outside BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast on Sunday

'I was tortured by the regime'

Mazen Haseno says the majority of Syrians living in Northern Ireland are "over the moon"

Mazen Haseno helped organise the demonstration on Sunday afternoon.

He said he "couldn't sleep last night" as he watched the "unbelievable" news.

The majority of Syrians living in Northern Ireland are "against the regime" and "had to leave because they feared for their lives", he said.

"[We're] over the moon... so, so happy.

"Syrian people cannot describe the feeling... It's like a really warm feeling inside, I cannot explain it.

Before arriving to Northern Ireland eight years ago, Mr Haseno said he was imprisoned and "tortured by the Syrian regime" for two-and-a-half years.

He said many Syrians had been traumatised by Assad.

"Finally he's gone now, after 14 years, hopefully we will have a democratic country now," he said.

Mr Haseno said he intended to return to Syria "as soon as possible, when it's safe".

What is happening in Syria?

The Assad family ran Syria for 53 years with an iron fist. Now that has come to an end.

President Bashar al-Assad took power in 2000, after his father had ruled for almost three decades.

Thirteen years ago, he brutally crushed a peaceful, pro-democracy uprising - which turned into a devastating civil war. More than half a million people were killed and 12 million were forced to flee their homes.

• Live updates: Syrian rebels capture Damascus, saying President Assad has fled

• Watch: The final hours of the Assad regime

• Analysis: End of Assad rule will reshape region's balance of power

• Watch: BBC reports from inside Damascus

Last Wednesday, an Islamist anti-government group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) successfully led a major offensive in the north-west, together with allied factions.

The rebels captured Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo, and then swept southwards down the highway to the capital Damascus, as the Syrian military collapsed.

Early on Sunday morning, the HTS-led rebels announced that they had entered Damascus and released detainees at the country's most notorious military prison, Saydanaya, where thousands of opposition supporters are believed to have been executed during the civil war.

Less than two hours later, they declared: "The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled."

Senior army officers said the president flew out of the capital for an unknown destination shortly before the rebels arrived.

Assad's Prime Minister, Mohammed al-Jalali, then announced in a video that he was "ready to co-operate with" any leadership that was "chosen by the Syrian people".

Many Syrians say they feel a new sense of freedom - though some are worried about the future.

Read more on this story here.

How has the world reacted?

Crowds have gathered in cities across the world as many Syrians celebrate the fall of the Syrian government.

Leaders from several Western countries have welcomed news today that Bashar al-Assad's nearly 25-year rule has ended.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK welcomed the fall of Assad's "barbaric regime".

"The developments in Syria in recent hours and days are unprecedented, and we are speaking to our partners in the region and monitoring the situation closely," he said.

Thousands of Syrians are celebrating in European cities such as Stockholm in Sweden

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Simon Harris said the fall of the "brutal Assad dictatorship" was to be welcomed and the priority "must now be to prevent chaos and vacuum".

"The scenes we are seeing across Syria, including in Damascus, are truly historic," Harris said.

"A once in a generation opportunity for regime change is now upon us."

The White House said US President Joe Biden and his team were "closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners".