The Hear
Flag of uk
08.12.2024

08.12.2024 โ€” The Day Damascus Changed Hands

THE
The Hear Logo
HEAR

This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 08.12.2024.

It displays 131 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

08.12.2024 โ‡ข The Day Damascus Changed Hands
โŒจSyrian rebels claimed control of Homs in early morning hours, followed by rapid advances into Damascus. Initial reports of Assad's flight were met with government denials, but by afternoon Russian officials confirmed his departure. The rebels' swift takeover of Damascus evolved from initial gunfire reports to scenes of palace looting, with citizens taking luxury items from Assad's residence.

Israel conducted airstrikes in Damascus while establishing control of border areas, as Russia announced the evacuation of its naval base. By evening, Moscow confirmed granting Assad asylum "on humanitarian grounds," marking the end of the family's five-decade rule. The fall of Damascus follows the rebels' capture of Aleppo and Hama in previous days.

Storm Darragh continued to impact UK infrastructure, claiming a second victim and causing West Ham's Michail Antonio to crash his Ferrari, requiring surgery.
08.12.2024

00:26โ‡ขHoms Falls, Assad Crumbles

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Syrian rebels claiming full control of Homs, with multiple sources indicating Assad's regime is losing control "suburb by suburb" in Damascus (BBC, Guardian, Sky News, Times). A diplomatic encounter between Prince William and Trump at the British Embassy in Paris generates coverage of mutual praise and reminiscence about Queen Elizabeth (Daily Mail, Telegraph). West Ham's Michail Antonio's Ferrari crash draws attention with reports of him being trapped for an hour (The Sun).
01:12
01:36
BBC

Rebels claim they have complete control of Syria's third biggest city Homs

Rebel leader Golani says it is a "historic moment" but the Syrian military say the news is "unfounded".
01:36
01:44
BBC

Gunfire reported in Damascus as rebels claim control of Homs

Reports that rebel forces have surrounded Damascus as Islamist leader claims full control of Homs.
01:44
02:00
BBC

Rebels say they are entering Syrian capital Damascus

Reports of gunfire in the city as Islamist rebel leader claims full control of Homs.
02:00
02:16
The Guardian

Syrian rebels say they have begun entering Damascus

02:16
02:40
BBC

Gunfire heard in Damascus as rebels say they are in the city

Reports from Syria claim President Bashar al-Assad has left the country as anti-government forces enter the capital.
02:40
03:36
The Guardian

Syrian rebels say al-Assad has fled Damascus and claim to have captured capital

03:36
03:44
BBC

Rebels say Syria free of Assad after reports he has fled

Reports from Syria claim President Bashar al-Assad has left the country as anti-government forces enter the capital.
03:44
04:24
The Guardian

Syrian rebels say Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus and claim to have captured capital โ€“ live updates

04:24
04:40
04:41

04:43โ‡ขDamascus Falls, Assad Denies Flight

โŒจThe newspapers report intensively on the fall of Assad's regime, with Syrian rebels claiming control of Damascus while state media denies Assad's flight (The Guardian, The Telegraph, Channel 4, The Times). In South Korea, protesters' hopes fade as the impeachment vote against President Yoon fails (BBC). Storm Darragh claims a second victim through falling trees (The Independent, Metro), while West Ham's Antonio is hospitalized after a Ferrari crash (The Sun).
04:57
05:36
06:07
08:23
The Guardian

Syrian rebels say Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus and claim to have captured capital

08:23

08:41โ‡ขDamascus Falls, Assad Flees

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Syrian rebels' capture of Damascus, with multiple sources confirming Assad's flight and rebels declaring Syria "free from tyrant" (Daily Mail, Guardian, Independent, Mirror, Sun, Telegraph, Times, Spectator). The Notre-Dame cathedral's ceremonial reopening brings Prince William and Trump together in Paris (BBC, Breitbart), while Storm Darragh claims another victim in the UK (Metro).
09:03
09:19
09:27
The Guardian

Syrian rebels say they have captured capital as Bashar al-Assad reported to have fled Damascus

09:27
10:39
10:47
The Guardian

Rebels say they have captured Damascus as Bashar al-Assad reported to have fled

10:47
10:55
The Guardian

Rebels say they have captured Damascus as Pentagon says US will keep presence in eastern Syria

10:55
11:03
11:03
11:19
11:27
11:27
The Guardian

Turkey says Assad government has โ€˜collapsedโ€™ and control of Syria is โ€˜changing handsโ€™

11:27

11:30โ‡ขRussians Admit Syrian Defeat

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Assad's fall, with Turkish officials declaring the Syrian government has "collapsed" and Russian sources warning of defeat (Guardian, HuffPost, Sun, Times). Opposition victory in Ghana's presidential election emerges as a secondary story (BBC), while Storm Darragh causes widespread rail disruption (Metro) and results in West Ham's Michail Antonio's Ferrari crash (Daily Mail, Mirror). Climate activist Greta Thunberg generates controversy at a pro-Palestine rally (Breitbart).
11:51
The Guardian

Bashar al-Assad has left Syria, says Russiaโ€™s foreign ministry

11:51
12:07
12:47
12:47
12:55
13:43
13:51
14:07
14:23
The Guardian

โ€˜The future is oursโ€™ says Syrian rebel leader after Assad flees

14:23
14:31

14:33โ‡ขPalace Looters and a Vanished Plane

โŒจThe newspapers extensively report on Assad's collapse, with new details emerging of Syrians ransacking his palace, taking luxury items and cars (Daily Mail, Metro), while his whereabouts remain unknown after his plane vanished from radar (The Sun, Times). Zelensky provides rare casualty figures, claiming 43,000 Ukrainian and 198,000 Russian deaths (BBC), as Trump calls for immediate ceasefire (Breitbart).
14:47
15:19
15:20
15:59
The Guardian

โ€˜The future is oursโ€™ says Syrian rebel leader; Israel carries out airstrikes in Damascus, says report

15:59
17:03
17:11
17:19
Spiked

Want a spiked mug? Donate now

17:19

17:21โ‡ขDamascus Falls, Syrians Dream of Return

โŒจThe newspapers extensively report on the aftermath of Assad's fall, with Syrian rebels declaring victory and Syrians worldwide celebrating potential return (Metro, Independent). Israel conducts airstrikes in Damascus while establishing control of border areas (Guardian, Telegraph). In other news, New York police continue manhunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer (BBC), and West Ham's Michail Antonio undergoes surgery following Ferrari crash (Mirror, Sun).
17:51
17:59
18:07
The Guardian

Ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad reportedly in Moscow

18:07
18:15
18:23
19:59
20:07

20:12โ‡ขMoscow Welcomes Assad As Damascus Falls

โŒจThe newspapers extensively report on Assad's confirmed flight to Moscow, where he has been granted asylum (Guardian, Telegraph, Times, Metro, Sky). Syrian rebels have taken control of Damascus with little resistance (Channel 4, Independent), discovering evidence of mass executions and torture in regime prisons (Daily Mail). In parallel coverage, over 30,000 people marched in London against antisemitism (Jewish Chronicle), while doctors pressure Starmer on Britain's position regarding Gaza (Morning Star).
21:32
22:56
22:57
The Guardian

Syrians celebrate fall of Bashar al-Assad after five decades of dynastic rule

22:57
23:25