Syrian opposition fighters celebrate the fall of the Syrian government, in Damascus, Syria on December 8, 2024.

Syrian opposition fighters celebrate the fall of the Syrian government, in Damascus, Syria on December 8, 2024. / AP

Rebel forces in Syria have ousted President Bashar al-Assad from power, ending more than half a century of brutal rule by the Assad family.

Assad's downfall came less than two weeks after an initial incursion west of the country's second largest city, Aleppo, triggered a cascading series of routs and retreats by the demoralized Syrian military.

See what happened.

A man steps on a picture of Syria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad as people enter his residence in Damascus' Malki area after Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria.

A man steps on a picture of Syria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad as people enter his residence in Damascus' Malki area after Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. / AFP

People stand atop a toppled statue of Syria's late president Hafez al-Assad in Damascus.

People stand atop a toppled statue of Syria's late president Hafez al-Assad in Damascus. / AFP via Getty Images

A man kisses a Syrian rebel fighter who returned to the central city of Homs, after being in exile for 12 years after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight.

A man kisses a Syrian rebel fighter who returned to the central city of Homs, after being in exile for 12 years after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight. / AFP via Getty Images

Syrian rebel fighters and civilians gather in the central city of Homs, after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight.

Syrian rebel fighters and civilians gather in the central city of Homs, after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight. / AFP via Getty Images

A woman waves a Syrian opposition flag as she celebrates at Umayyad Square in Damascus.

A woman waves a Syrian opposition flag as she celebrates at Umayyad Square in Damascus. / AFP via Getty Images

Opposition fighters celebrate in Damascus, Syria.

Opposition fighters celebrate in Damascus, Syria. / AP

An aerial view shows traffic on the streets in Syria's capital Damascus, after Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria.

An aerial view shows traffic on the streets in Syria's capital Damascus, after Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. / AFP via Getty Images

Syrian opposition fighters drive along the Damascus-Beirut highway, Syria.

Syrian opposition fighters drive along the Damascus-Beirut highway, Syria. / AP

Abu Mohammed al-Golani speaks at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Golani, a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance, leads the biggest rebel faction and is poised to chart the country's future.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani speaks at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Golani, a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance, leads the biggest rebel faction and is poised to chart the country's future. / AP

Syrian opposition fighters celebrate after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus, Syria.

Syrian opposition fighters celebrate after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus, Syria. / AP

Government soldiers and their allies huddle on the ground while being detained by insurgents in Homs, Syria.

Government soldiers and their allies huddle on the ground while being detained by insurgents in Homs, Syria. / AP

A fire burns in a room of the Tishrin residential palace of Syria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus' al-Muhajirin area.

A fire burns in a room of the Tishrin residential palace of Syria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus' al-Muhajirin area. / AFP via Getty Images

An opposition fighter fires his AK-47 in the air in celebration after opposition forces took control of the city in Damascus.

An opposition fighter fires his AK-47 in the air in celebration after opposition forces took control of the city in Damascus. / AP

Syrian Islamist-led rebel fighters pray in a mosque in the central city of Homs early on December 8, 2024, after entering Syria's third city overnight.

Syrian Islamist-led rebel fighters pray in a mosque in the central city of Homs early on December 8, 2024, after entering Syria's third city overnight. / AFP via Getty Images

Displaced Syrians break into tears as they return to central city of Homs, after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight.

Displaced Syrians break into tears as they return to central city of Homs, after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight. / AFP via Getty Images

A Syrian rebel fighter fires rounds as people celebrate near the Clock Tower in the central city of Homs, after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight.

A Syrian rebel fighter fires rounds as people celebrate near the Clock Tower in the central city of Homs, after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight. / AFP via Getty Images

Detained Syrian pro-government soldiers chant slogans outside the central city of Homs, after surrendering when rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight.

Detained Syrian pro-government soldiers chant slogans outside the central city of Homs, after surrendering when rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight. / AFP via Getty Images

A man tries to take a lamp as people search for belongings in the ransacked private residence of Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Malkeh district of Damascus, Syria.

A man tries to take a lamp as people search for belongings in the ransacked private residence of Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Malkeh district of Damascus, Syria. / AP

Residents celebrate the fall of the capital Damascus to opposition forces, in Homs, Syria.

Residents celebrate the fall of the capital Damascus to opposition forces, in Homs, Syria. / AP

People wave guns in the air, as they gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime in Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria.

People wave guns in the air, as they gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime in Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria. / Getty Images

A damaged poster of Bashar al-Assad is seen as a fire burns at a security compound that houses the Syrian Military Intelligence Interrogation Division, in Damascus, Syria.

A damaged poster of Bashar al-Assad is seen as a fire burns at a security compound that houses the Syrian Military Intelligence Interrogation Division, in Damascus, Syria. / Getty Images

A portrait of Hafez al-Assad, father of Bashar al-Assad, is seen discarded, in Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria.

A portrait of Hafez al-Assad, father of Bashar al-Assad, is seen discarded, in Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria. / Getty Images

Members of armed groups celebrate by shooting into the air at the Umayyad Square after sixty-one years of Baath Party rule in Syria collapses on Sunday when, the capital fell out of the hands of regime control in Damascus, Syria.

Members of armed groups celebrate by shooting into the air at the Umayyad Square after sixty-one years of Baath Party rule in Syria collapses on Sunday when, the capital fell out of the hands of regime control in Damascus, Syria. / Anadolu via Getty Images