BEIRUT: Syrian state television broadcast a video statement from a group of men on Sunday announcing the overthrow of long-time President Bashar al-Assad and the release of all prisoners from prison, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

The video followed a dramatic turn of events early Sunday as armed opposition groups seized control of the capital Damascus, bringing an abrupt end to the Assad regime.

The reader of the statement called on all opposition members and citizens to protect the institutions of the “free Syrian state”.

On November 27, clashes broke out between Assad regime forces and anti-regime armed groups in rural areas west of Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria.

On November 30, anti-regime groups seized control of most of central Aleppo from regime forces and gained control of the entire Idlib province on the same day. Last Thursday, the groups captured the center of Hama from regime forces after fierce clashes.

Anti-regime groups captured some settlements in the strategic Homs province, a gateway to the capital Damascus, and began advancing there.

On Friday, armed opposition groups launched an operation in Daraa province on Syria’s border with Jordan, recapturing the city center from regime forces after clashes.

On Saturday, the entire Suwayda province in southern Syria also came under the control of opposition groups. On the same day, local opposition groups in Quneitra also took control of the provincial center.

In Homs province, which leads to the capital, opposition forces took control of the provincial center on Saturday.

Groups advancing against Assad regime forces entered the southern suburbs of Damascus later on Saturday. The regime troops also withdrew from the defense and interior ministries as well as the international airport in Damascus.

As anti-regime armed groups began to dominate the capital, the Assad regime quickly lost all control of Damascus on Sunday morning. Despite rumors of his escape from the capital, the whereabouts of the ousted Assad remain unknown.

Separately, as part of Operation Dawn of Freedom, launched on December 1 by the opposition Syrian National Army against the terrorist organization PKK/YPG in rural areas of Aleppo, the Tel Rifaat district center was cleared of terrorism.