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Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule.
Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire and waved the revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war.
The swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region.
Read Also: Rebels Escort Syrian PM Al-Jalali For Power Transfer In Damascus
“Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East,” President Joe Biden said, crediting action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria’s backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He called the fall of Assad a “fundamental act of justice” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” and said rebel groups are “saying the right things now” but the U.S. would assess their actions.
Russia requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to discuss Syria, according to Dmitry Polyansky, its deputy ambassador to the U.N., in a post on Telegram.
The arrival of Assad and his family in Moscow was reported by Russian agencies Tass and RIA, citing an unidentified source at the Kremlin. A spokesman there didn’t immediately respond to questions. RIA also said Syrian insurgents had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria.
In other news, a disturbing video has surfaced on Sunday, showing Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali being escorted by armed rebels in the heart of Damascus. As the footage unfolds, it becomes clear that the prime minister was being taken to a hotel, where he was reportedly to hand over government authority.
Captured in the video, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali is surrounded by armed rebels, as he carefully descends a staircase. The prime minister, flanked by another individual, enters a black SUV, a clear sign of the authority being transferred under duress.
The unsettling footage sheds light on the fragile power dynamics in Damascus, as forces opposed to the government continue to tighten their grip on key areas of the city.
“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.
