Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus
The ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has reportedly fled to Moscow, where his long-term ally, Russia, has granted him asylum. It comes after a rapid rebel offensive seized Damascus, ending five decades of Assad family rule.
Celebrations erupted across Syria as thousands took to the streets, waving revolutionary flags and firing celebratory gunshots. The jubilant scenes echoed the early days of the Arab Spring before Syria was engulfed in a nearly 14-year civil war marked by devastating violence and division.
The fall of Damascus raises significant questions about Syria’s future and its impact on the broader Middle East. U.S. President Joe Biden called the collapse of Assad’s regime a “fundamental act of justice” and credited international efforts for weakening the support base of Syria’s allies — Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah.
Russian media outlets Tass and RIA reported that Assad arrived in Moscow with his family, citing unnamed Kremlin sources. The reports also suggested that Assad had left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups, issuing instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Rebel leaders have assured the security of Russian military and diplomatic assets in Syria, RIA added.
The transition of power now centres on Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction, Syria’s largest rebel group. Once affiliated with al-Qaida, al-Golani has since renounced extremism and expressed support for pluralism and religious tolerance. Despite this shift, HTS remains designated as a terrorist organisation by the U.N.
The rebels face an uphill battle to stabilise a fractured country still grappling with internal conflicts. Turkey-backed factions are clashing with U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and remnants of the Islamic State remain active in remote regions.
Syrian prime minister says he is ready to hand over government to the opposition