Bashar al-Assad Flees to Russia as Rebels Capture Syrian Capital.
In a dramatic turn of events, the embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have sought refuge in Russia, following the collapse of his regime in the face of a rebel offensive that saw the capital Damascus fall into the hands of Islamist forces.
According to reports published in Russian state media outlets, including TASS and RIA Novosti, Assad and his family members have been granted asylum by the Russian authorities on “humanitarian grounds.”
The reports indicate that Assad fled Syria as the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept into the capital, with the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, later addressing cheering crowds at a mosque in Damascus.
“Russia has, for humanitarian reasons, granted asylum to Assad and his family members,” a Kremlin source told RIA Novosti, adding that Moscow has “always advocated for a political solution to the Syrian crisis” and considers it necessary to “resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN.”
The fall of the Assad regime in Damascus is seen as a significant blow to Russia’s prestige, as the Kremlin has been a key ally of the Syrian president, providing military assistance that helped him cling to power over the years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had deployed thousands of troops to Syria in 2015 to shore up Assad’s forces, with Russia subsequently being granted long-term leases on the Hmeimim air base and the Tartus naval facility in the country.
According to the Kremlin source, Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the Syrian opposition, who have promised to ensure the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions within the country.
As the dust settles on the fall of Damascus, the focus now turns to the potential for a renewed push for a political solution to the ongoing Syrian conflict, with Russia calling for the resumption of UN-mediated negotiations.
The dramatic events mark a significant shift in the power dynamics within the region, as the long-standing Assad regime gives way to a new, uncertain future for Syria.
