In a shocking development, Bashar al-Assad has stepped down as Syria’s president and fled the country, according to Russia, his key ally. The announcement comes after rebel forces seized control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, without resistance, marking a significant turning point in Syria’s civil war.
The Russian foreign ministry provided no further details about Assad’s location, confirming his departure for the first time. Assad has not been seen publicly since meeting Iran’s foreign minister in Damascus last week, where he vowed to “crush” the rapidly advancing rebels.
Rebel Forces Announce Assad’s Departure
On Sunday, Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) declared Bashar al-Assad’s departure, referring to him as a “tyrant.” Their fighters reportedly entered Damascus unopposed, signaling the collapse of Assad’s regime.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that He had left Syria via Damascus International Airport. According to SOHR head Rami Abdul Rahman, a plane believed to be carrying Assad departed at 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday.
Flight Tracking Raises Questions
Data from Flightradar24 showed no flight departure at the reported time. However, a Cham Wings Airlines Airbus A320 left Damascus at 00:56 Sunday, bound for Sharjah in the UAE. The plane arrived on time, but UAE officials have not confirmed His presence.
Reuters cited Syrian military sources claiming Bashar al-Assad boarded a Syrian Air plane early Sunday. A Syrian Air Ilyushin Il-76T cargo plane also took off from Damascus at 03:59 local time (01:59 GMT), heading northwest over Homs and the Mediterranean coast before disappearing from radar near Homs at 04:39 local time (02:39 GMT).
Confusion Surrounds Assad’s Whereabouts
Flightradar24 explained that the aircraft’s older transponder and GPS jamming in the region could have caused data inaccuracies. Despite the signal loss, no reports of a plane crash have emerged. The sudden developments have sparked global speculation about Bashar al-Assad’s current location and the future of Syria under rebel control.
The unexpected departure of Assad’s marks a significant shift in Syria’s political landscape, with rebel forces now in control of Damascus. International observers are closely monitoring the situation to assess the implications for the region.
