Assad Granted Asylum in Moscow on 'Humanitarian' Grounds as World Leaders Praise End of 'Barbaric' Regime

Mr. Assad and members of his family arrived in the city on Sunday, a Kremlin source told the TASS news agency.

Mr. Assad and his family arrived in Moscow on Sunday, a Kremlin source confirmed to the TASS news agency

The source further stated, "Russia has granted them asylum for humanitarian reasons."

Mr. Assad departed from the Syrian capital, Damascus, after his government was overthrown in a swift offensive by anti-regime forces, ending his 24-year rule.

Initially, the whereabouts of Assad, his wife Asma, and their two children were unclear.

As Assad fled, social media footage showed families joyfully looting presidential palaces in Damascus, with some taking selfies in the opulent surroundings, while thousands celebrated in the streets.

People also entered a building near the Damascus palaces, believed to house luxury cars belonging to the former president.

Videos shared online showed individuals driving around inside a garage, passing rows of red sports cars and large 4x4 vehicles.

Thousands of Syrians, both in cars and on foot, gathered in a central square in Damascus, chanting for freedom.

In the pivotal city of Homs—seized by rebel fighters after just one day of fighting—thousands more flooded the streets after the army's withdrawal, dancing and chanting, "Assad is gone, Homs is free," and "Long live Syria, down with Bashar al-Assad."

Syria’s international airport in Damascus was abandoned, and rebels claimed to have entered the infamous Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, where human rights organizations report that thousands of Syrians have been tortured and killed by the Assad regime.

A video circulating online appeared to show rebels breaking open prison cells and releasing dozens of female prisoners, who seemed shocked and disoriented. Among them, at least one small child could be seen.

Celebrations also erupted in cities worldwide, with Syrians gathering in places like Madrid, Manchester, and Tripoli in northern Lebanon to mark the historic moment.

The fall of Assad's regime represents a significant turning point for Syria after 13 years of civil war. The regime had been battling on three fronts—Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the north, the Southern Front, and Kurdish groups in the east.

HTS, a Sunni Islamist militant faction formerly known as the Nusra Front and once affiliated with al-Qaeda, has long been designated a terrorist organization by the US. In 2016, it severed ties with al-Qaeda in an attempt to present itself as a more moderate group.

Syrian rebels, comprising various opposition groups, announced they were working to transition power to a new governing body with full executive authority.

"The great Syrian revolution has moved from the stage of overthrowing the Assad regime to the struggle of building a united Syria that honors the sacrifices of its people," the coalition stated, calling the events a "new birth for great Syria."

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who spearheaded the insurgency, declared "the future is ours" in a statement broadcast on Syrian state TV.

He emphasized that "there is no turning back" and reaffirmed his group's "determination" to continue the path it began in 2011.

Speaking to a crowd inside the vast Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, he later referred to the fall of Assad as a "victory for the Islamic nation."

"A new history, my brothers, is being written across the entire region following this great victory," he stated.

World Leaders React to President Assad's Fall

Russia, which, along with Iran, played a crucial role in propping up the Assad regime, has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address the unfolding situation in Syria, according to a Kremlin official on Telegram.

US President Joe Biden referred to Assad's downfall as a "fundamental act of justice," while also acknowledging it as "a moment of risk." UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the need for all sides to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

"The recent developments in Syria are unprecedented," the British Prime Minister said. "We are engaging with our regional partners and closely monitoring the situation. The Syrian people have endured too much under Assad’s brutal regime, and we welcome his departure. Our focus now is on securing a political solution and restoring peace and stability."

Israeli Airstrikes Hit Damascus, Reports Say

Israel has carried out three airstrikes targeting a major security complex in Damascus, according to two regional security sources speaking to Reuters.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also struck a research center in the Syrian capital, which Israel claims was used by Iranian scientists to develop missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the ousting of President Assad a "historic day."

During a visit to the area near the Syrian border, Netanyahu confirmed that he had ordered Israeli forces to seize a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, stating, "We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border."

Mr. Netanyahu stated that the move was necessary to "ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights" following the abandonment of Syrian military positions in the area.

The Golan Heights was captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East War and later annexed. The international community, with the exception of the United States, considers it occupied territory.