Morning reports confirmed rebels' capture of Daraa, with Assad's family reportedly seeking refuge in Russia. Iran began withdrawing personnel from Syria as anti-regime forces approached Damascus from multiple directions. Putin's apparent abandonment of Assad marked a decisive shift in regional alliances.
By afternoon, while Macron celebrated Notre-Dame's reopening in Paris with Trump and Zelenskyy present, Syrian government forces were observed evacuating by helicopter from Homs. The state news agency's insistence that Assad remained "working in Damascus" contrasted with reports of widespread military defections.
Evening coverage documented rebels entering Homs and establishing control over Damascus suburbs, while Assad reportedly sought US assistance through diplomatic channels. The speed of the regime's collapse surprised Western observers, who had not anticipated such rapid territorial changes following the fall of Aleppo earlier in the week.