Syria’s main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), said they are working on taking complete control of the Syrian capital Damascus and promised a new government would take over immediately after its formation.

“Our forces have almost finalized control of the capital and protecting public property,” the group said on social media on Monday.

“The new government will start work immediately after its formation,” it added, without giving further details.

Rebels took the capital Damascus after former president Bashar al-Assad fled the country for Moscow, ending his two-decade rule.

The Islamist HTS led a surprise offensive that began in north-western Syria in late November and then quickly seized territory from pro-Assad forces as they moved south toward Damascus.

Assad’s exit breaks Iran’s sway in Syria but risks Islamist resurgence

The ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after rebel forces swept into Damascus this weekend, shattered Iran’s network of influence in the Middle East but Israel, the United States and Arab powers must now deal with the risk of instability and extremism from the mosaic of forces that replaces him.

Chief among the rebel forces that ended 50 years of brutal dynastic rule by Assad and his father was Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Muslim group previously affiliated with Al Qaeda that is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.N.

‘Damascus trying to figure out how to deal with new reality’

Nonstop celebratory gunfire echoes around central Damascus’s Umayyad Square.

Reporting from the packed site in Syria’s capital, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar said today is expected to be the last day were such celebrations will be allowed.

“The city is still trying to figure out how to deal with the new reality. The old order has collapsed and the new order is coming, however the question is whether it’s going to be smooth or chaotic,” he added.

The main focus right now, Serdar said, is the formation of a new government and “to keep the order, to keep the security, to not let the state institutions be interrupted”.

To do so, he noted, the HTS has established several command centres, including at the building that housed Syria’s military headquarters for decades.

Hamas congratulates Syrians on ‘achieving aspirations for freedom, justice’

The Palestinian group has issued a statement congratulating the Syrian people on “achieving their aspirations for freedom and justice” and urged all parts of society to unite and move beyond past hardships.

“We stand firmly with the Syrian people and reaffirm our commitment to Syria’s national unity and territorial integrity,” the group said.

“We believe the Syrian people have the resilience to overcome challenges and navigate this critical period. Syria can reclaim its historic and pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian cause and its resistance, while reaffirming its leadership within the Arab and Islamic worlds.”

Hamas also strongly condemned “repeated acts of aggression by the Israeli occupation against Syrian territory” and rejected any “Zionist ambitions or plans targeting Syria”.

SOURCE; AGENCIES