Syrian crisis: Assad flees to Russia as rebels seize capital
- Reuters should refute its fake story about the death of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Earlier, media controlled by the Kremlin reported that ousted President Bashar al-Assad, along with his family, had flown to Moscow.
Against the backdrop of reports about Assad's arrival in Moscow, Zakharova ironically asked if Reuters would deny its reports of his "high-profile death."
Dictator fled to Russia
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his family fled from Damascus to Russia, where they were granted humanitarian asylum – reported Russian state media, citing sources in the Kremlin. Rebels took control of the capital on Sunday morning, ending Assad's rule.
Overnight from Saturday to Sunday, reports spread worldwide that Assad had left Damascus on a plane in an unknown direction, which became the subject of speculation. Reuters suggested that the plane might have been shot down or crashed. According to Flightradar, the aircraft took off from Damascus, changed course over the Syrian coast, and then disappeared from the radar.
On Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Assad had resigned from office, left Syria, and called for a peaceful transfer of power. Earlier, media reported that Assad's family had travelled to Russia, where they were said to have purchased luxury properties.
Half a million victims
Assad was the president of Syria from 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad. The rule of the Assad clan was characterized by authoritarianism and brutal suppression of the opposition. In 2011, in the wake of the Arab Spring, anti-government protests erupted in the country, turning into a civil war, claiming over 500,000 victims. With the support of Russia and Iran, Assad managed to regain control of most of the country, but the latest rebel offensive led to the collapse of his regime.
Russian agencies report that Moscow maintains contacts with rebel leaders who have guaranteed the safety of Russian bases and diplomats in Syria. Russia has military bases in Khmeimim and Tartus.
The fall of the Assad regime is a blow to Russia's prestige. By sending thousands of troops in 2015 to shore up President Assad, one of Russia's key objectives had been to assert itself as a global power – emphasized the BBC. Assad was a key ally of Moscow in the Middle East, and Syrian bases served to promote Russian influence in Asia and Africa.
Russia will seek to present this failure in a way that minimizes its own setbacks.
