Ousted, Bashar al-Assad seeks refuge in Russia
Bashar al-Assad is reportedly in Russia after being forced to flee Syria following the rebels’ capture of Damascus this past Sunday.
According to Reuters, citing a source close to the Kremlin, the now-former head of state and his family have been granted political asylum by Russia.
Rebel forces retook the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, effectively ending Bashar al-Assad's 24-year reign.
In the aftermath of his departure, presidential properties were looted by locals. Some took selfies while others celebrated openly in the streets of the capital.
The Syrian diaspora also marked the occasion, with celebrations reported in cities such as Madrid, Manchester, and Tripoli in Lebanon.
The Syrian rebels managed to seize the capital within a matter of days. The Russian military, stationed in the region, had quickly fled the country prior to the regime’s collapse.
(QG - Source: The Guardian / Sky News / Picture: © Unsplash)