By Yakubu Salisu, Kano
Armed opposition and rebels say its fighters have captured the capital, Damascus, and that President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country.
The commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, says all state institutions will remain under the supervision of al-Assad’s prime minister until they are handed over officially.
The announcements come hours after the opposition groups seized several cities in a lightning offensive.