International news agencies or official Russian media outlets

Assad Escapes to Russia After 24-Year Rule Ends in Syria

Dec 11, 2024, 08:35 AM

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has confirmed that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted from power after a rapid advance by opposition groups, is now safely in Russia. Assad's regime fell after nearly 24 years of rule, marked by a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Russia, which had intervened in Syria’s civil war to support Assad, facilitated his secure exit from the country. Ryabkov emphasized that Assad was transported to Russia 'in the most secure way possible' and that he would not face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).