Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family were granted asylum in Russia and arrived in Moscow on Sunday after the collapse of the Syrian government.
The rebel victory early Sunday ended a 10-day offensive in which fighters captured much of what had been government-owned land, effectively ending the Assad family's 50-year rule in the country.
According to reports, Assad fled the capital before rebel fighters entered the capital. According to reports, he has left the country and is heading to an undisclosed location.
According to Russian state mediaTASS, Assad and his family arrived in Moscow and were being guided in accordance with “humanitarian considerations,” meaning Russia granted them asylum.
“Russia has always supported a political solution to the Syrian crisis,” a Kremlin official told the outlet. “We advocate the resumption of UN-mediated talks.”
The official said Russian officials were in contact with members of the Syrian opposition. Opposition leaders have guaranteed the security of Russia's military bases and diplomatic missions, the official said.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali said in a video that his government was ready to “reach out” to the rebels and work towards forming a transitional government.
Iranian state media reported that President Assad had left the country. Iran is his main supporter in the ongoing Syrian civil war.
Citizens took to the streets to mark a critical moment in Syria's civil war. The uprising has raised questions about what lies ahead for the country and the region.
President Biden said that ousting Assad was a “fundamental act of justice” but said this moment was full of “risk and uncertainty.”
