Bashar al-Assad Flees to Russia and Granted Asylum After Regime’s Collapse

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled Syria and taken asylum in Russia following the sudden collapse of his 14-year regime.

The al-Assad family is said to have left Syria early this morning, seeking refuge in Moscow.

Russian state news agencies confirmed the development, citing a Kremlin source that stated the asylum was granted on humanitarian grounds.

A file handout picture showing Bashar al-Assad with his family in Syria.

While the exact whereabouts of Assad remains unclear, US President Joe Biden indicated that intelligence suggests the Syrian leader is now in Moscow.

A Syrian opposition fighter sits inside an office at the Presidential Palace after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Biden also took the opportunity to criticise Assad’s brutal reign, which has been marked by widespread violence, chemical attacks, and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians.

His regime, which brutally cracked down on peaceful protests in 2011, has long been condemned by human rights groups for committing war crimes.

Assad’s private residence has been taken over (Picture: AP)

News of Assad’s departure was met with celebrations around the world, particularly among Syrians who suffered under his dictatorship.

Laughter, cheers and singing have filled cities across the world (Picture: AFP)

In major cities such as London, Berlin, and Paris, jubilant crowds waved flags and gathered in solidarity, marking the fall of one of the most brutal regimes in modern history.

These celebrations reflected years of pent-up anger and hope for Syria’s future.

In Syria, the fall of Assad’s regime led to immediate celebrations in the streets of Damascus and other cities. People rushed to the presidential palace, looting luxury goods and taking selfies with toppled statues of the dictator.

The celebrants brought items like Louis Vuitton bags, Mercedes-Benz cars, and cash from Syria’s Central Bank, symbolising the public’s reclaiming of their country.

Many have cried tears of joy across the world after the Assad regime fell (Picture: AFP)

The news overjoyed many Syrians who had fled the regime during the civil war. The brutal Assad regime had subjected opposition members to torture, imprisonment, and even death.

For these refugees, his downfall represented the long-awaited opportunity to return to Syria free from repression. Among the looters were citizens carrying stacks of plates, luxury dishes, and other items from Assad’s once-opulent palaces.

As the regime crumbled, Assad’s loyalists, including soldiers and police officers, abandoned their posts. Reports indicate that government officials fled, leaving personal items such as papers and maps in the presidential offices.

In Homs, a city heavily damaged by the war, rebels paraded captured members of the Syrian government forces as a symbol of the new era.

Chairs inside Assad’s presidential conference room have been stolen as well (Picture: AP)

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Assad’s departure from Syria. It announced that he had resigned following talks with various participants in the Syrian conflict. His resignation and the peaceful transfer of power were hailed as crucial steps in resolving Syria’s long-running civil war.

The announcement of his departure came shortly before Syrian state television aired a video declaring the fall of Assad’s government.

The rebel group “Operations Room to Conquer Damascus” also issued a statement calling on all fighters and citizens to preserve the state institutions of the “free Syrian state.” As chaos engulfed the capital, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched targeted airstrikes on military airports in Damascus, intensifying the situation further. The IDF also confirmed that its troops had entered Syria, taking control of key areas along the Golan Heights.

Syrians celebrating in the streets of Damascus expressed their relief and joy at the end of Assad’s rule. The celebrations were marked by honking cars, chants of “God is Great,” and anti-Assad slogans. In the wake of the regime’s collapse, questions about the future of Syria’s leadership remain. Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali called for free elections to allow the Syrian people to choose their new leaders.

Assad has held an iron grip on the country since his father died (Picture: AP)

Meanwhile, crowds gathered at the Syria-Lebanon border, as many Syrians who had fled the war now hope to return to their homeland. The fall of Assad’s regime has triggered a wave of optimism among Syrians who had lived in exile since the beginning of the civil war in 2011. The refugees are eager to rebuild their lives in post-Assad Syria, free from violence and oppression.

Statues have been toppled by resistance fighters (Picture: AFP)

In Damascus, Iranian diplomats evacuated their embassy as rebel forces announced the regime’s fall. Iran has been a long-time ally of Assad, providing military and financial support during the conflict. The evacuation marked a significant shift in the regional power dynamics, as Iran’s influence in Syria may now be questioned in the wake of Assad’s departure.

The speed at which Assad’s regime collapsed has taken many world leaders by surprise. Despite being propped up by Russian and Iranian military support, the Syrian leader was unable to withstand the pressure from rebel forces and popular uprisings.

A fire has been started at the Immigration and Passports government building in Damascus (Picture: Steps News Agency)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the fall of Assad’s “barbaric regime” and called for peace and stability in Syria in the coming weeks.

Opposition fighters have posed on busts of the late President Hafez Assad (Picture: AP)

As Syria grapples with this historic change, rebel forces have implemented a curfew in Damascus from 4 pm to 5 am to maintain order. The Alawite sect, which had been a key part of Assad’s support base, urged Syrians to remain calm and avoid actions that could divide the country further. This message of unity has resonated with many who hope to see Syria move toward a more democratic and peaceful future.

Members of the Syrian government forces have been paraded around by the rebel fighters (Picture: AFP)

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 following peaceful protests against Assad’s government, has claimed nearly half a million lives and displaced millions.

Syrians celebrate after the armed groups opposed to Bashar al-Assad’s regime took control of the city centre of Homs province on December 8 (Picture: Anadolu)

As the country starts to rebuild, the international community closely watches how the post-Assad era unfolds. While there is hope for peace, Syria’s road to recovery will be long and fraught with challenges.

Rebel forces shoot in the air as they celebrate in the central Syrian city of Homs early on December 8, 2024, after they entered Syria’s third city overnight (Picture: AFP)

The fall of Assad’s regime marks a pivotal moment in Syria’s history. For Syrians who have suffered for over a decade, this moment represents the chance to reclaim their country, rebuild their communities, and work toward a future free from the tyranny that has defined their lives for so long.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

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