Syrian rebels have overthrown President Bashar al-Assad and also announced the capture of the country’s capital, Damascus.
The former leader has since fled the war-torn country and is reportedly in Moscow, Russian state media said Sunday citing a source in the Kremlin.
Assad fled Syria after opposition forces stormed the capital, Damascus, early Sunday. He had been in power for almost 25 years, presiding over a bloody civil war during the latter half of his reign.
Russia’s TASS news service said Assad and members of his family, after arriving in Moscow, had been granted asylum by Russia on humanitarian grounds.
It would be recalled that the rebels, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has gained major victories in recent days, taking over major cities like Aleppo and Homs.
On Sunday morning, the commander of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, said state institutions will remain under the supervision of Mr al-Assad’s prime minister, Mohammad al-Jalali, until formal handing over. Al-Jazeera reports.
The HTS and many of the opposition fighter groups are believed to be backed by Turkey, whose president has never hidden his disdain for Mr al-Assad since the Arab spring.
On Saturday, incoming US President, Donald Trump, in a message on X, celebrated the loss of Mr al-Assad but said the US should not get involved in the crisis.
Mr al-Assad’s exit is a major blow to Iran and Russia who have actively supported his government, deploying arms and personnel to fight alongside the Syrian army against the rebels.
However, with Russia bogged down with the war in Ukraine and Iran facing internal crises alongside a potential war with Israel, Mr al-Assad appears to have been unable to hold down the country on his own.
