In a swift and dramatic turn of events, armed opposition forces have taken full control of Damascus, marking the end of over five decades of Assad family rule in Syria. The offensive, which lasted less than two weeks, culminated on Sunday with the declaration that President Bashar al-Assad had fled the capital and abdicated his power.
Later that day, Russian state media reported, citing a Kremlin source, that Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow. They have reportedly been granted asylum on humanitarian grounds. Confirming the news, Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Assad had \"decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully.\"
Adding to the developments, a reporter from China Media Group (CMG) uncovered information from a UN official stationed in Syria. According to the official, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jallali conducted a formal power transfer with the opposition forces at a hotel in Damascus on Sunday. Al-Jallali is now temporarily overseeing public institutions following his appointment by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) head Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, who led the decisive assault on the capital and has since arrived in Damascus.
This significant power shift not only changes the political landscape of Syria but also has far-reaching implications for the region and international relations. As the world watches closely, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the future stability and governance of Syria.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
