Bashar al-Assad Granted Asylum in Russia Following Regime Collapse in Syria

Former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has been granted asylum in Russia after his government was toppled by a rapid and decisive offensive by opposition forces.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported on Sunday that Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow.

“Being guided by humanitarian considerations, Russia has granted asylum for them,” a Kremlin source stated.

Assad’s departure marks the end of his nearly 25-year rule over Syria, including 13 years of civil war. The collapse of Assad’s regime follows an unexpected escalation in Syria’s long-running conflict. On November 27, a coalition of opposition forces, led by the militant Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a sweeping offensive, capturing large portions of territory, including Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.

These developments caught Assad’s forces off guard, leading to significant territorial losses. Rebel advances highlight a dramatic shift in a conflict that once saw Assad reclaim most of the country with Russian support. The rebels pressed further south, reaching the capital, Damascus, within just 10 days.

The Kremlin emphasized its commitment to finding a political resolution to Syria’s crisis.

“Russia has always spoken in favor of a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. We insist that the UN-mediated talks be resumed,” the Kremlin source added.

Russia has also reportedly opened channels with the Syrian opposition.

“Russian officials are in touch with representatives of armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions on Syrian territory,” TASS quoted the source as saying.

Russia has been a key player in Syria since 2015, deploying military personnel to support Assad’s forces against opposition groups and extremist factions like the Islamic State. At its peak in fall 2024, Russian personnel in Syria numbered approximately 7,500, including military advisers, special forces, and former Wagner Group mercenaries contracted by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Syria has endured a brutal civil war since 2011, resulting in immense loss of life, displacement, and destruction.