Bashar al-Assad, the recently ousted president of Syria, has fled the country and sought refuge in Moscow, according to a Kremlin source. The source confirmed that Assad and his family were granted asylum by Russia on humanitarian grounds, shortly after Islamist-led rebels made a swift advance into Damascus.
The news follows Russia’s call for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to address the rapidly changing situation in Syria. Russia, a longstanding ally of Assad, has been deeply involved in the Syrian conflict, providing military support to Assad’s forces since 2015. The Kremlin’s assistance has been crucial in helping Assad maintain control amidst the civil war.
The source further mentioned that the rebels who ousted Assad assured the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic facilities in Syria. Russia maintains a naval base in Tartus and a military airfield in Khmeimim, both of which are critical to its presence in the region.
Despite the unrest, Russia has remained committed to a political resolution of the Syrian crisis. The Kremlin has called for the resumption of peace talks under the United Nations’ guidance, emphasizing the need for diplomacy moving forward.
In response to the developments, a Russian UN representative confirmed that Moscow had requested a closed-door meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation, underscoring the importance of understanding the full implications of these events on Syria and the broader Middle East.
