Topline
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled Syria Sunday after rebels seized control of Damascus, Russia’s foreign ministry said—a pivotal moment in the years-long civil war against the regime that has controlled Syria since the 1970s.
This aerial photo shows Damascus’s historic Umayyad Mosque on December 8, 2024, with smoke billowing … [+]
Key Facts
The foreign ministry of Russia, a key Assad ally, said he “decided to step down as the Syrian President and leave the country, instructing the government to transfer power peacefully”—but did not specify where Assad fled to.
Al-Assad’s apparent departure follows a blitz by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other anti-government forces, starting with the seizure of Aleppo and culminating Sunday in a takeover of Damascus.
The group said it would work with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, who would maintain control over public institutions for the immediate future, The New York Times reported.
Al-Jalali said he had not spoken to al-Assad since Saturday and vowed to work with the country’s new leader, according to The Times.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
