Syrian president Assad resigns and departs amidst unrest
After the events in the capital of Syria, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spoken out. As emphasized by Kremlin diplomats, the current Russian units stationed in the country are not threatened, although they have been placed on high alert. The Kremlin also denied reports that al-Assad might be staying in Russia.
On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Bashar al-Assad had resigned from the presidency and left Syria. This information was reported by the Polish Press Agency, citing a country that has supported the regime in Damascus for years. At the same time, Russian military bases in Syria have been placed on heightened alert.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, Assad, after talks with several participants in the Syrian conflict, decided to transfer power peacefully. A high-ranking commander was also said to have left the country with the president.
Assad, after discussions with various participants in the Syrian conflict, resigned from the presidency and left Syria, ordering that power be transferred peacefully – stated the ministry. Russia emphasized that it did not participate in these negotiations but remains in contact with the Syrian opposition.
Russian units in Syria are not threatened
Despite the heightened readiness of Russian military bases in Syria, Moscow assures that there is currently no "immediate threat to Russian forces in Syria" of these facilities, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Reuters reports that Assad flew out of Damascus on Sunday in an unknown direction. His fate remains unknown, and Reuters sources indicate that the plane he may have been travelling on disappeared from radar and may have been shot down.
Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Gazi al-Jalali stated that since Saturday evening, the whereabouts of Bashar al-Assad and Defence Minister Ali Mahmud Abbas are unknown. Earlier, on Saturday, The Telegraph reported that Assad's family left the country and is staying in the territory of the Russian Federation.
