DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Hours after a spectacular rebel advance took over Damascus and ended his family’s 50-year iron reign, Russian media reported Sunday that ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad had escaped to Moscow and been granted asylum by his old friend.
In images reminiscent of the early days of the Arab Spring revolt, before a violent crackdown and the emergence of an insurgency sank the nation into a nearly 14-year civil war, thousands of Syrians poured into streets resonating with joyous gunfire and waved the revolutionary flag.
The rapidly unfolding events sparked concerns for the nation’s and the region’s future.
President Joe Biden claimed that his strategy had changed the balance of power in the Middle East and credited the United States and its allies with undermining Syria’s supporters, Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. He stated that while opposition organizations are saying the right things right now, the United States will evaluate their actions. He called the overthrow of Assad a fundamental act of justice but also a time of peril and uncertainty.
Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the U.N., wrote on Telegram that Russia had asked for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss Syria.
Russian media outlets Tass and RIA reported that Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow, citing an unnamed Kremlin source. Questions weren’t immediately answered by a representative there. The protection of Russian military installations and diplomatic missions in Syria has been assured by Syrian rebels, according to RIA.
Russia had earlier claimed that Assad had instructed a peaceful handover of power and that he had left Syria following talks with opposition groups.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the head of Syria’s largest rebel group, is in a position to shape the future of his nation. The former al-Qaida leader claims to support religious tolerance and pluralism and severed his connections with the organization years ago. The United States and the United Nations consider the HisHayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, to be a terrorist organization.
Al-Golani attended the Umayyad Mosque in his first public appearance since fighters moved into the suburbs of Damascus on Saturday. He called Assad’s downfall a success for the Islamic country. He claimed that Assad had turned Syria into a plantation for Iran’s avarice, referring to himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, rather than his alias.
In a nation torn apart by conflict and divided among armed groups, the rebels must confront the difficult challenge of mending savage divisions. In the north, U.S.-allied Kurdish troops are engaged in combat with opposition militants backed by Turkey, while the Islamic State group remains active in isolated regions.
A rebel statement announcing the removal of Assad and the liberation of all prisoners was shown on Syrian state television. They declared a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. and asked citizens to protect the institutions of the free Syrian state.
An internet video allegedly depicts rebels releasing scores of women from the infamous Saydnaya prison, where human rights organizations claim thousands were murdered and tortured. Among them was at least one tiny toddler.
One relative, Bassam Masr, stated, “This happiness will not be complete until I can see my son out of prison and know where he is.” I’ve spent the last two hours looking for him. He has spent 13 years in custody.
In an attempt to calm religious and ethnic minorities, rebel commander Anas Salkhadi made an appearance on state television, declaring that Syria is for everyone, without exception. Syria belongs to all sects, including Sunnis, Alawites, and Druze.
He went on to say, “We will not treat people the way the Assad family did.”
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