Part 2/7:
With cheers and a palpable sense of defiance, citizens gathered in a suburb of Damascus to pull down statues of President Bashar al-Assad, symbolizing a collective uprising against his government. As tensions rise, the Assad administration vehemently denies claims that the president has fled, asserting that he continues to carry out his official duties from the capital. This refutes growing fears that the regime is on the brink of collapse as rebel forces intensify their campaign.