Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's long rule has come to an end after rebels seized the capital Damascus. The fighters declared the city "liberated" in a statement broadcast on state television. Syrians have celebrated in the streets.

Asad's whereabouts are unknown. Turkey's foreign minister said he was "probably" out of Syria, while a source close to the rebels said a search for him was underway. He has not spoken publicly for several days.

Syria's prime minister said in a recorded message that the government is ready "to cooperate with any leadership that the people choose." He was seen in a video being accompanied by rebels. The rebels - who are led by Islamists - have said minorities will be protected.

A US official told CNN that the events in Syria mark the collapse of the "Iranian artifice" across the Middle East. The overthrow of the Iranian-backed Assad follows the destruction of Tehran's key proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, in conflicts with Israel over the past 14 months.

US President-elect Donald Trump took to social media early Sunday morning to weigh in on the decline. e the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

"Assad is gone. He has fled from his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was no longer interested in protecting him,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place," he said, adding "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine."/CNN/