As the long rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria came to an end, rumors circulated about his whereabouts until it was revealed that he had landed in Moscow, Russia. Assad and his family were granted asylum in Russia for humanitarian reasons, as confirmed by Russian state media on Sunday night.
The Kremlin remained silent on Assad's location, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declining to provide details on whether President Vladimir Putin was involved in the decision to grant asylum. Flight tracking data showed a plane departing from Damascus towards the coast before making a sudden U-turn over Homs, raising speculation about Assad's presence on the flight.
Assad had maintained a low profile during the uprising, meeting with Iran's foreign minister and vowing to combat terrorist organizations. As rebels encircled Damascus, reports emerged that Assad was missing from the city, with his Presidential Guard no longer stationed at his residence.
Amid conflicting reports from Syria's presidential office, Russia's foreign ministry stated that Assad had left the country and relinquished power peacefully. This announcement was followed by confirmation of Assad's arrival in Moscow, a move supported by Russia due to its longstanding alliance with the Syrian regime.
Russian state media claimed that Syrian rebel leaders had assured the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions in Syria, addressing concerns about the safety of Russian assets in the region. While it remains uncertain whether Moscow will be Assad's permanent destination, his arrival marks a sudden and undignified conclusion to his more than two-decade-long tenure in power.
