Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and family have landed in Moscow and have been granted asylum, Russia state media reported today, hours after Islamist-led rebels took control of his country.

"Assad and members of his family have arrived in Moscow," a Kremlin source told the TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies. "Russia granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds," he added.Read here.

Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of Bashar al-Assad, who was no longer in Damascus when rebels captured the Syrian capital on Sunday, ending more than five decades of his family's rule.

Celebrations erupted around Syria and crowds ransacked President Bashar al-Assad's luxurious home on Sunday after Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus and declared he had fled the country, in a spectacular end to five decades of Baath party rule.

Three cars were stolen from the garden of the residence of Italian ambassador in Damascus by "armed group", said Italy's foreign minister today. 

"This morning an armed group entered the garden of the residence of Italy's ambassador... they took away three automobiles," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. However, there was no violence during the incident.

Syria's Islamist-led rebels announced a curfew in Damascus on Sunday until the following morning, after seizing the capital from the government following a lightning offensive launched last week, said news agency AFP.

The rebel factions' joint operations room, headed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, "announces a curfew in the city of Damascus starting from 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) until 5:00 am (0200 GMT)" on Monday, it said in a statement on Telegram.

The leader of Syria's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that headed a lightning rebel offensive snatching Damascus from government control visited the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque Sunday, an AFP correspondent said.

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, gave a speech as the crowd chanted "Allahu akbar (God is greatest)," a video shared by the rebels on their Telegram channel showed. As he entered the mosque, crowds could be seen cheering him on, videos circulating online showed.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday called for peace and stability in Syria after the fall of its president Bashar al-Assad in the face of an Islamist-led rebel offensive, said news agency AFP.

"The Syrian people have suffered under Assad's barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure," Starmer said in a statement.

"Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored," he added, calling for "civilians and minorities" to be protected.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria was a "historic day in the... Middle East" and the fall of a "central link in Iran's axis of evil".

Saudi Arabia has been communicating with all regional actors on Syria and is determined to do what is possible to avoid a chaotic outcome for the country, a Saudi official told news agency Reuters.

"We have been in contact with all actors in the region. We are in constant communication with Turkey and every stakeholder involved," the official said, adding that the kingdom was not aware of Bashar al-Assad's whereabouts.

"This is a historic day for the Middle East," wrote Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israeli in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).

"The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers. We send a hand of peace to all those beyond our border in Syria: to the Druze, to the Kurds, to the Christians, and to the Muslims who want to live in peace with Israel."

He made it very clear that the Israel government "will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border."

היום בגבול סוריה: זה יום היסטורי בתולדות המזרח-התיכון. לא נאפשר לשום כח עוין להתבסס בגבולנו. pic.twitter.com/9RUuikfKS5

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 8, 2024

Groups of Syrians strolled through the palaces of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday following his ouster, wandering from room to room, posing for photographs, and with some taking items of furniture or ornaments.

Syria should have an 18 month transition period to establish "a safe, neutral, and quiet environment" for free elections, Hadi Al-Bahra, the head of Syria's main opposition abroad, said to Reuters on the sidelines of the Doha Forum on Sunday.

Qatar's foreign ministry on Sunday warned Syria must not be allowed to slide into chaos after Islamist-led rebels declared they had taken Damascus and ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

The Gulf emirate said it was "closely monitoring the developments in Syria" and emphasised "the necessity of preserving national institutions and the unity of the state to prevent it from descending into chaos".

Iran said it expects the "friendly" relations with Syria to continue after the fall of Tehran's staunch ally Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

"The relations between the two nations of Iran and Syria have a long history and have always been friendly, and it is expected that these relations will continue," a foreign ministry statement said.

Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, hailed the fall of Syria's Bashar al-Assad and said it pointed to the weakness of some of his supporters, including Russia.

"The end of Assad's dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad's backers, Russia and Iran," Kaja Kallas said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran.
Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners, in Syria and in the region.

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) December 8, 2024

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday welcomed the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as "good news" and urged a political solution to stabilise for the war-stricken country.

"Bashar al-Assad oppressed his people brutally. He has countless lives on his conscience and has driven numerous people to flee, many of whom have arrived in Germany," Scholz said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday welcomed the fall of Bashar al-Assad's "barbaric state" in Syria, and sent wishes of peace to the war-torn nation's people.

"The barbaric state has finally fallen. I express my appreciation to the people of Syria, for their courage and patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I wish them peace, freedom and unity. France will remain committed to security and stability throughout the Middle East," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

سقطت دولة الهمجية، أخيرًا.
أُعبّر عن تقديري لشعب سوريا، لشجاعته وصبره. في هذه اللحظة المليئة بالشكوك، أتمنى له السلام، والحرية، والوحدة.
ستظل فرنسا ملتزمة بالأمن والاستقرار في جميع أنحاء الشرق الأوسط

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 8, 2024

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called to "unite and reconstruct" Syria in an orderly manner, without compromising on inclusiveness. "There must never be a desire for revenge...," he added.
"As of this morning, Syria has reached a stage where Syrian people will shape the future of their own country. Today there is hope," Fidan said.

Asked about the whereabouts of Assad, Fidan said he believed he was out of the country.

Turkey had no contact with Assad despite a call from President Tayyip Erdogan to hold normalisation talks, after years of animosity, he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had left office and departed the country after giving orders there be a peaceful handover of power.

In a statement, the ministry did not say where Assad was now and said Russia has not taken part in the talks around his departure.

It said Russia's military bases in Syria had been put on a state of high alert, but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time.

The "Assad regime collapsed and control of the country is changing hands", Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at the Doha Forum in Qatar. "This didn't happen overnight. For the last 13 years, the country has been in turmoil" since civil war began with Assad's repression of democracy protests in 2011, he added.

When asked about Assad's whereabouts and whether his life might be in danger, Mr Fidan said, he is "probably outside of Syria." 

He also called for a smooth transition from the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after Islamist-led rebels took Damascus.

"We have to work very hard... with Syrian people, not just Turkey, but also regional actors, the international actors, to make sure that there is a good and smooth transition period, no more harm to the civilian people," he said.

Syria's foreign ministry said that it would continue to serve citizens abroad after rebels seized the capital Damascus. In a note in Arabic, the Ministry wrote, "Today, a new page is being written in the history of Syria, to inaugurate a national covenant and charter that unites the word of the Syrians, unites them and does not divide them, in order to build one homeland in which justice and equality prevail and in which everyone enjoys all rights and duties, far from a single opinion. Citizenship is the basis."

The note on the website further read, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic and its diplomatic missions abroad will remain committed to serving all fellow citizens and managing their affairs, based on the trust they bear in representing the Syrian people, and that the homeland remains supreme."

Iraqi embassy staff left Damascus on Sunday for neighbouring Lebanon, a diplomatic source told the news agency AFP, after Syrian rebel forces seized the capital and declared the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

The foreign ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the embassy's 10 employees including the mission's chief arrived "in Beirut by land, and are all in good condition", adding that the evacuation was "due to the tensions in Damascus... the full withdrawal of the army and the loss of security".

Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended.

"President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners," the White House said in a statement.

China's foreign ministry hopes Syria "returns to stability as soon as possible", after Islamist-led rebels said they had taken Damascus and sent President Bashar al-Assad fleeing.

Beijing "is closely following the development of the situation in Syria and hopes that Syria returns to stability as soon as possible", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iran's embassy in Syria's capital Damascus attacked, reported the state media.

"Unknown individuals have attacked the Iranian embassy, as you can see in these images, shared by various networks," a state TV broadcaster said, showing footage said to be from inside the diplomatic compound.

"Today marks a watershed moment in Syria’s history... This dark chapter has left deep scars, but today we look forward with cautious hope to the opening of a new one—one of peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for all Syrians," says Geir O Pedersen, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria.

A senior United Arab Emirates official urged Syrians to collaborate to avert chaos after rebels said they had seized Damascus and announced the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

"We hope that the Syrians will work together, that we don't just see another episode of impending chaos," presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.

Syria's capital woke up Sunday to chanting, cheering and gunfire in celebration of the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, after rebels said they entered the city and toppled the longtime ruler.

"I can't believe I'm living this moment," tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha told AFP by phone from the capital's Ummayad Square, where witnesses said dozens of people had gathered to celebrate.

"We've been waiting a long time for this day," said Batha, as Islamist-led rebels and a war monitor declared the end of decades of Assad family rule amid 13 years of grinding civil war.

"We are starting a new history for Syria," Batha added.

At the dawn call to prayer, some mosques were broadcasting religious chants usually reserved for festive occasions, while also urging residents to stay home with the city engulfed in uncertainty just hours into the rebels' takeover.

Rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions have pressed a lightning offensive since November 27, sweeping swathes of the country from government control, including major cities Aleppo, Hama and Homs and entering the capital Damascus early Sunday.

In extraordinary images, rebel fighters announced on state television that they had toppled "tyrant" Assad, who war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said had "fled".

The Ba'ath Party is a political organisation that has dominated Syrian life for nearly five decades. Initially focused on Arab nationalism and pan-Arab unity, the Baath Party's slogan, "unity, freedom, socialism," appealed to many across the Middle East in the mid-20th century. Its goal was to challenge Western-backed governments and establish a modern, industrial economy.

In early 2011, in the streets of Daraa, southern Syria, a teenager's rebellious act against an authoritarian regime triggered a civil war that reshaped the country's destiny. Mouawiya Syasneh, then just 14 years old, spray-painted a wall with words that would have grave implications.

"Ejak el door, ya doctor (It's your turn, Doctor) - this graffiti, directed at President Bashar al-Assad, with reference to his medical background, became the catalyst for a national uprising that descended into one of the most devastating civil wars of the 21st century.

US President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had "fled his country" after losing the backing of Russia.

"Assad is gone," he said on his Truth Social platform. "His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer."

Behind the smoke and chaos of Syria's ongoing turmoil, the Al-Assad family stands as the untouchable core -- a dynasty that has moulded the country's fate for over half a century. At the centre is Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rebels have declared the start of a new era as they marched into the capital Damascus this morning. President Bashar Al-Assad, whose family has ruled the Middle Eastern country for over 50 years, has fled the country and the Syrian army command has confirmed to its officers that the Assad rule has ended.

The Kurdish-led forces in Syria have hailed the fall of "dictatorial" regime of Bashar Al-Assad and termed it as a "historic" moment.

Syrian rebels said that they have released all those who were "unjustly detained" under President Assad's regime.

The Assads have ruled Syria for over half a century. Today, rebel forces have breached their seat of power Damascus, prompting President Bashar al-Assad to flee and effectively ending the family's rule over Syria.

As rebel forces move into the Syrian capital Damascus after the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime, there is panic as well as celebration on the streets

Syrian Embassy in Qatar released a statement welcoming the "liberation of Syria from the grip of tyranny", and the "opening of a new page of glory in the history book" after the fall of the Assad regime.

The Bashar al-Assad government has, by all means, fallen in Syria. The Sunni-majority country, rocked by a fierce rebellion against a Shia ruler, now looks ahead for a new start after half a century.

President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday the US should not be involved in the conflict in Syria, where rebel forces are threatening the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

The White House on Sunday said that US President Joe Biden is monitoring "extraordinary events" in Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad oversaw a merciless crackdown on a pro-democracy revolt that morphed into one of the bloodiest wars of the century.

Syria rebel leader said institutions to remain under the Prime Minister until the official handover.

The Israeli army said Saturday that its troops were assisting UN peacekeepers in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights in repelling an attack "by armed individuals".

Syria's army command has notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad's rule has ended following a lightning rebel offensive, reported Reuters.

Syrian rebels said Damascus was "now free of Assad".

The Syrian rebels have announced a 'new era' in Syria after 50 years of Baath rule.

The Syrian rebels, who have entered capital Damascus, told Syrians living abroad to return to "free Syria".

As rebels entered capital Damascus, Syrian Prime Minister said he is "ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the people". He also added that he is "ready for the handover process".

More than 2,80,000 people have been uprooted in northwest Syria following the sudden and massive offensive into Government-controlled areas led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is sanctioned by the Security Council as a terrorist group, the United Nations said.

Over 280,000 people have been uprooted in northwest Syria in a matter of days following the recent escalation of violence.
Amid already dire living conditions after 13 years of war, the UN is scaling up humanitarian efforts to assist the most vulnerable.https://t.co/6qweOj3n6D pic.twitter.com/weQdEi13rL

— United Nations (@UN) December 6, 2024

In March 2011, mass protests broke out in Syria, inspired by the Arab Spring. Bashar al-Assad initially offered reforms, such as abolishing emergency laws and releasing political prisoners, but violence against protesters escalated. The government deployed troops and tanks, while Assad claimed Syria was the victim of an international conspiracy. By September 2011, armed opposition groups gained momentum, leading to a full civil war by mid-2012.

In July 2012, Assad's inner circle suffered a major blow when several senior officials were killed in a bombing. As the war intensified, both sides received support from international allies.

In August 2013, attacks involving chemical weapons near Damascus killed hundreds, leading to calls for international military action. An agreement between the US, Russia and Syria led to Syria's chemical weapons being placed under international control, avoiding military intervention. Despite this, Assad's forces continued using indiscriminate weapons, such as barrel bombs in rebel-controlled areas.

As the war progressed, Assad's hold on power grew stronger. The rise of ISIS in 2013 refocused international efforts, including those of the US, on defeating the extremist group. Russia's military intervention in 2015 also strengthened Assad's position. By 2017, Assad regained control of most major cities, with remaining rebels confined to pockets of territory.

In 2018, Assad's army advanced in Idlib, where Turkish forces had intervened to protect rebel-held areas. As the conflict neared its end, Assad began rebuilding Syria through infrastructure projects and attracting foreign investment. One controversial measure, Law 10, allowed the government to seize property from displaced Syrians, enabling property redistribution to loyalists.

For over a decade, the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria seemed to have weathered the storm of a brutal civil war with help from powerful allies like Russia and Iran. The 59-year-old Syrian president's grip on power appeared resolute, despite the chaos around the country.

Bashar al-Assad has been the president of Syria since 2000, following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled the country for nearly 30 years.

Born on September 11, 1965, in Damascus, Bashar al-Assad is the second son of Hafez al-Assad, a military officer and leader of the Ba'ath Party who became president after a 1971 coup. The Assad family belongs to a Syrian minority sect that makes up about 10 per cent of the population but has had a dominant role in politics since the 1960s.

As Syrian rebels entered Damascus, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad boarded a plane and left for an unknown destination, reported Reuters citing two senior army officers.

Syrian rebel forces claim to have made inroads, bringing them closer to the heart of the capital Damascus, the seat of President Bashar al-Assad's power. The swift advance has plunged Assad's regime into its most precarious position.

Rebels on a lightning advance through Syria said they were nearing the capital Damascus on Saturday, although the Bashar al-Assad government denied the army had withdrawn from areas around the city. The rebels claimed they had encircled the city.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syria must not be allowed to fall into the hands of "terrorist" rebels fighting the forces of Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad. 

"It's inadmissible to allow the terrorist group to take control of the lands in violation of agreements which exist, starting with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 which strongly reiterated sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Syrian Arab Republic," Mr Lavrov said at an event in Qatar, referring to a 2015 UN resolution for a political settlement in Syria.

Islamist-led rebels announced Sunday they had started entering the Syrian capital Damascus, where residents told AFP they heard heavy gunfire.

"Our forces started entering Damascus," Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) said on Telegram.

The capture of Homs, Syria's third-largest city, would cut the seat of power in the capital Damascus from the Mediterranean coast, a key bastion of the Assad clan which has ruled Syria for the past five decades.

Hassan Abdel Ghani, a leading commander of the Islamist-led rebel coalition, said the group's "operations continue to fully liberate the Damascus countryside".

As the fighting between the forces led by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the anti-government rebels raged on, the rebels on Sunday announced full control of Homs, the third main city in the nation. They also said that the rebels are nearing Damascus - the seat of President Bashar al-Assad's power.