Bashar al-Assad, Syria's ousted president, has fled to Moscow after his regime collapsed amid a rebel offensive. Russian media confirmed his arrival, granting him asylum. Syrians celebrated in the streets as the regime fell, while opposition forces pledged to rebuild Syria under a new governing body.
Syria's former President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Moscow after his government collapsed due to a swift offensive by opposition forces. Russian state media confirmed that Assad, along with his family, arrived in the Russian capital on Sunday, where they were granted asylum for humanitarian reasons.
The whereabouts of Assad, his wife Asma, and their children were initially unknown after the regime's fall. As Assad fled Damascus, jubilant Syrians were seen celebrating in the streets and raiding the presidential palace, with footage showing them driving luxury cars from Assad’s collection, including Ferraris, Aston Martins, and Rolls-Royces.
In the wake of the regime’s collapse, rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), swiftly seized control of key cities, including Homs and Aleppo. In Damascus, celebrations intensified, with protesters chanting anti-Assad slogans and declaring the city "free."
The opposition coalition has pledged to transition Syria to a new governing body that represents the people, marking a shift from the struggle to overthrow Assad to efforts to rebuild the country. Meanwhile, Russia, which had supported Assad's regime, has called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
