In a surprise move, Russia has granted asylum to ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family on “humanitarian grounds”, according to Russian news agencies. The al-Assad family arrived in Russia after armed opposition fighters captured Damascus, forcing al-Assad to flee. US President Joe Biden mentioned that there were reports of al-Assad being in Moscow. The fall of the regime was celebrated by residents in Damascus and opposition leaders have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions in Syria. Despite Russia’s support for al-Assad in the war, the opposition was able to topple the regime. The war, which started in 2011, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and turned millions into refugees. This marks the end of over half a century of the al-Assad family’s rule in Syria. Russia’s role in the conflict, including carrying out bombing raids on opposition areas, has been controversial. The events of Sunday came after a rapid rebel advance that began in November, ending al-Assad’s rule and opening up opportunities for the people of Syria to build a better future for their country.
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