The whereabouts of Syria’s Bashar Assad is currently unknown as the country’s capital Damascus falls to rebels, signing the end of Assad’s 24-year rule.
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Gulf Daily News reported that Bashar Al Assad boarded a plane in Damascus with his wife Asma and their two children for an unknow destination early on Sunday, as rebels seized the city and ousted him from power.
A Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was reported to have been taken by rebels, according to data from the Flightradar website. The aircraft initially flew towards Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Bashar Assad has stepped down as Syrian President and left the country following negotiations with armed opposition groups amid the fall of Damascus to opposition forces.
In a statement issued on Telegram on Sunday afternoon, officials clarified that Moscow was not involved in the talks but acknowledged Assad’s decision to transfer power “peacefully.”
“Russian military bases in Syria are on high alert. At present, there is no serious threat to their security,” the statement read. The Foreign Ministry said Moscow remains in contact with all Syrian opposition factions and is taking measures to ensure the safety of Russian citizens in the region.
”We urge all sides to refrain from violence and resolve issues of political governance through dialogue,” the statement said. It also stressed the need to respect the views of “all ethnic and religious groups within Syrian society.”
The Syrian Army command announced on Sunday that President Bashar Assad’s 24-year rule has come to an end, an officer in the country’s armed forces has told Reuters.
In response to the political uncertainty, Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammad al-Jalali stated that he is “ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the people,” as quoted by Al Jazeera. He added that he remains at home and is inclined to support the continuity of government.
Al Jazeera reported that Syrians poured out into the streets across Syria and around the world, jubilant at the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
