9-12-2024 (MOSCOW) In a dramatic turn of events that marks the end of nearly six decades of Assad family rule in Syria, former President Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted humanitarian asylum in Moscow, according to a senior Kremlin source speaking to Russian news agencies on 8 December.
The development comes as opposition forces entered Damascus unopposed, prompting a swift transition of power in the war-torn nation. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Assad had departed Syria after arranging for a peaceful transfer of authority.
A crucial agreement has emerged ensuring the protection of Russia’s strategic military installations in Syria, including the vital Hmeimim air base in Latakia and the naval facility at Tartous. These bases, which have been central to Russia’s Middle Eastern influence since its 2015 intervention in the Syrian conflict, were reportedly secured through negotiations with Syrian opposition leaders.
“Russia does not betray friends in difficult situations,” declared Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador to international organisations in Vienna, via his Telegram channel, confirming Assad’s arrival in the Russian capital.
The Tartous facility, Russia’s sole Mediterranean maintenance and resupply point, has been particularly crucial for Moscow’s military operations extending into Africa. Military analysts suggest that losing access to this port would significantly impair Russia’s ability to project power across the region.
In a telling sign of the changing times, observers noted the removal of the Syrian flag from the country’s embassy in Moscow. Despite this symbolic gesture, embassy staff indicated that operations would continue as usual.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, whilst acknowledging its alarm at the rapidly unfolding situation, emphasised its preference for a political resolution to the crisis. “We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means,” the ministry stated, noting its ongoing dialogue with various Syrian opposition groups.
