Syrian unrest escalates: Rebels storm embassies in Damascus
Syrian rebels who have taken control of Damascus launched an assault on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital on Sunday, Reuters reported, citing local media. The agency also reported the evacuation of Iraq's embassy in Syria. The embassy staff were relocated to Lebanon.
Syrian rebels who have captured Damascus carried out a storming of the Iranian embassy. As a result of the attack, the interior of the facility was destroyed, and images of the damaged premises appeared on social media.
Recordings also show a banner with images of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the head of Iran's Al-Quds forces, Qasem Soleimani, torn down by the crowd.
In response to these events, Iraq decided to evacuate its diplomatic staff from Syria.
On Friday, "The New York Times" reported on the planned evacuation of the Iranian embassy in Damascus due to the escalating conflict. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied these reports, stating that the diplomatic mission is functioning normally. Nevertheless, the situation in Syria remains tense, and the actions of the rebels suggest further escalations of the conflict.
The Bashar al-Assad regime, supported by Moscow and Tehran, was declared toppled by Syrian rebels. Facing the offensive, Iran began evacuating its military personnel from Syria. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Syria assures that its staff are safe. The conflict in Syria is drawing international attention, and its development may have far-reaching consequences.
Thousands of people gathered on Sunday in the main square in Damascus, witnesses report. The assembled crowd are chanting "Freedom!" after decades of Assad family rule. The Syrian opposition is supported by Ankara.
