Syria’s ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow, a Kremlin source told Russian news agencies, hours after he fled the country as Islamist-led rebels entered Damascus.
The announcement comes as Russia, a key Assad ally, called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council on the fast-changing situation on the ground in the war-torn country.
“Assad and members of his family have arrived in Moscow,” the source told the TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies. “Russia granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds,” he added.
Asked whether Assad was confirmed to be in Moscow, a Western official said they believed that was likely the case and had no reason to doubt Moscow’s claim.
The Kremlin source also said the rebels who ousted Assad in a lightning offensive “guaranteed the security of Russian army bases and diplomatic institutions on Syria’s territory”.
Russia, Assad’s biggest backer along with Iran, holds a naval base in Tartus and a military airfield in Khmeimim.
Moscow’s forces became militarily involved in the Syrian conflict in 2015, providing support for Assad’s forces to crush the opposition in the bloody civil war.
“Russia has always been in favour of a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Our starting point is the need to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN,” the Kremlin source added.
A Russian representative to the United Nations announced that Moscow had requested an emergency closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria for Monday afternoon.
“The consequences (of the events in Syria) for this country and the whole region have not yet been measured,” the official said on Telegram.
Rebels ‘capture’ Syrian prime minister; Order him to hand over government
Syrian Prime Minister, Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali has been spotted being escorted by rebels in Damascus on Sunday, Decembef 8, reportedly going to a hotel to hand over government authority.
A video showed Jalali surrounded by armed men walking down some steps and entering a black SUV with another man.
“The former prime minister is with the 5th Corps from the people of Hauran heading to the Four Seasons Hotel for a meeting and to hand over the country’s institutions to the heroes of the Free Army,” a man is heard saying in the video.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali leaves his hotel in Damascus, where he was hiding out in, to hand over power to the leadership of the Transitional Opposition Government.
I need you to replay these scenes because they’ll be replicated in Kenya very soon.… pic.twitter.com/9a95FImxb2
— Francis Gaitho (@FGaitho237) December 8, 2024
The prime minister in a video earlier said he wants to “ensure” the operation of public institutions, state facilities, and the preservation of “safety and security for all citizens.”
Rebel fighters on Sunday, December 8 declared the Syrian capital of Damascus “liberated” in a televised statement carried on state television.
Rebel fighters could be seen on the grounds of the Syrian presidential palace on Sunday,
Footage shared on social media showed fighters by a gate house located on the southern edge of the palace grounds.
The men can be seeing firing guns in the air in celebration on the otherwise deserted entrance area
