The Syrian government is on the brink of collapse as President Bashar al-Assad’s whereabouts remain unknown and government troops reportedly flee to Iraq. ABC global affairs editor John Lyons says it is a ‘chaotic situation’ in Syria but the Syrian government leader is likely to have had an escape plan. Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-08/syria-rebels-target-assad-regime-in-damascus-live-blog/104699118 ABC News provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad. It's news when you want it, from Australia's most trusted news organisation. For more from ABC News, click here: https://ab.co/2kxYCZY Watch more ABC News content ad-free on ABC iview: https://ab.co/2OB7Mk1 Go deeper on our ABC News In-depth channel: https://ab.co/2lNeBn2 Like ABC News on Facebook: http://facebook.com/abcnews.au Follow ABC News on Instagram: http://instagram.com/abcnews_au Follow ABC News on X (Twitter): http://twitter.com/abcnews Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated. #ABCNews #ABCNewsAustralia

Australiaabcabc newsnewsSyriaSyrian rebelsSyrian governmentSyrian forcesSyrian civil warAleppoHayat Tahrir al-ShamHTSBashar al-AssadAl QaedaPresident AssadPutinIdlibRussian air strikesIranTehranAllotyah KhameneiMilitary Operations CommandIslamist groupKurdsKurdish forcesAleppo cityTASSMiddle EastMiddle East warVladimir PutinMoscowSyrian rebel coalitionSyrian revolutionDamascusHomsAbu Mohammed al-JolaniJohn lyons