apoyrotection_by_russia_after_rebel_triumph”>
# Syrian Ditator Topples, Leaving Russia
The Tide Turns?
## Assad’s Disappearance Marks a Sudden End to Two Decades of Rule
Saying they didn’t want
The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmedSyrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s decision to resign as president and leave the country, adding that he had instructed his officials in Damascus to undertake the peaceful transfer of power to the rebel groups now in control of the capital, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on Sunday.
In what was the first official reaction to come from Russia since confirmation that the brutal 24-year-long rule of Syrian dictator and close Moscow ally Bashar al-Assad had suddenly ended over the weekend, the ministry also said that while Russia’s military bases in Syria had been put on high alert, there were no immediate threats to their security, and that Moscow remained in touch with all of the groups who make up the Syrian opposition,”TASS reported on Sunday.
While the whereabouts of Assad himself remain unknown, there is growing speculation that he may have been killed in a plane crash following the sudden disappearance from radar of a plane on which several sources say the dictator and his wife were travelling, which took off from Damascus Airport on Sunday morning.
It was
Speaking in Qatar on Saturday after a meeting with representatives of Iran and Turkey aimed at preventing Syria from collapsing into chaos, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it was imperative that the country not be allowed to fall into the hands of a “terrorist group” as the lightning advance on Damascus by Islamist-led rebels continued.
“[It’s inadmissible to allow the terrorist group to take control of territory in violation of agreements,” Lavrov said in comments reported by AFP, referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist militant group that is classed as a terrorist organization by Russia as well as by most Western governments.
HTS has long been the most effective and deadly of the rebel groups fighting the Assad regime under the banner of Free Syria, though it was founded in 2011 as an affiliate of al-Qaeda. In 2016, the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, publicly broke ranks with al-Qaeda, and has attempted to soften its image since then, according to the BBC.
While the Assad regime had been friendly with Russia for decades, it was only following Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War in 2015 that Moscow and Damascus became close allies. Kremlin support allowing Assad to retain power. It was Russia’s failure to come to Assad’s aid in recent weeks that proved instrumental in allowing rebel groups to retake Syria’s major cities
historical ties to
Kremlin support allowing Assad to retain power and it was Russia’s failure to come to Assad’s aid in recent weeks that proved instrumental in allowing rebel groups to retake Syria’s major cities in a matter of days culminating in the fall of Damascus in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The fall of Assad will come as a huge blow to the Kremlin not least as Russia has its sole military base outside the former Soviet Union in Hmeimim, as well as a naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartus.
While other Russian government agencies have remained silent on the events so far, members of the Russian opposition in exile were less circumspect in their reactions, with former political prisoner and senior opposition figure Ilya Yashin posting on X that Assad’s fall meant “one less dictator and Putin ally”, while, inverting Volodymyr Zelensky’s famous quote on the day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Garry Kasparov wrote that “Assad needs a ride, not ammunition.”
What are the potential consequences for Russia if rebel groups take control of Syria?
## Interview: The Fall of Assad and Russia’son Response
**Host:** Joining us today is Dr. Anya Petrova, a leading expert on the Syrian conflict and Middle Eastern politics. Dr. Petrova, the news coming out of Syria is incredibly dramatic. Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled Syria for over two decades, appears to have vanished, with rebel forces now controlling Damascus. What are your thoughts on these rapid developments?
**Dr. Petrova:** It’s a stunning turn of events. The speed of the rebel advance and Assad’s disappearance has taken many by surprise. This could mark a significant turning point in the Syrian civil war.
**Host:** Russia, a staunch ally of Assad’s regime, has confirmed his departure and called for a peaceful transfer of power to the rebel groups. Is this a change in their stance towards the conflict?
**Dr. Petrova:** It’s a complex situation. While Russia officially acknowledges Assad’s resignation, their actions suggest a more pragmatic approach. [2 ] mentions that Russia’s military bases in Syria are on high alert, indicating they are carefully weighing their options. Moscow undoubtedly wants to protect their interests in Syria, which include preserving their naval base in Tartus and preventing the establishment of a hostile entity on their doorstep.
**Host:** There is speculation that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash. How likely is this, and what impact could his death have on the situation?
**Dr. Petrova:** Confirmation of Assad’s fate is still pending. If confirmed dead, it would certainty add another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. It could lead to power struggles within the regime and potentially embolden rebel factions.
**Host:** What are the likely implications for the region and the broader fight against terrorism if the rebels, some of whom are extremist groups, gain control of Syria?
**Dr. Petrova:** This is a major concern for the international community. [2] highlights Russia’s fear of a “terrorist group” taking control. The rise of powerful Islamist militias in Syria poses a serious threat to regional stability and could create fertile ground for future terrorist activity.
**Host:** Thank you for your insightful analysis, Dr. Petrova. We will continue to follow these developments closely.
It is important to note that the news sources provided do not explicitly state that Assad is dead, only that his whereabouts are unknown.
