Russian authorities have granted asylum to Syria’s ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his family on humanitarian grounds. Reports from Russian news agencies state that the al-Assad family has arrived in Russia after the fall of Damascus to armed opposition fighters. It is believed that al-Assad may have been evacuated from a Russian air base in Latakia to Moscow. US President Joe Biden mentioned that there were reports of al-Assad being in Moscow but his whereabouts were not confirmed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that al-Assad had resigned and left Syria, leading to crowds ransacking his home in Damascus. Syrian opposition leaders have assured the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions in Syria. Despite Russia’s support for al-Assad during the Syrian war, the opposition was able to take control of Damascus, marking the end of the al-Assad family’s rule after more than half a century.
The Syrian war, which began in 2011 as an unarmed uprising against al-Assad, escalated into a conflict involving multiple foreign powers and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions. Russia’s involvement in the war helped al-Assad maintain power until the recent rebel advance that led to his departure from Syria. The events of Sunday marked a historic moment for the people of Syria as they had the opportunity to build a better future for their country after years of suffering.
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