Russia Firmly Denies Widespread Reports of Bashar al-Assad’s Death After His Plane Mysteriously Vanishes Over the Mediterranean During an Alleged Escape from Syria Amid Rebellion

A flurry of reports emerged on Sunday claiming a plane carrying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family had vanished over the Mediterranean.

Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 showed the aircraft departing Damascus in the early hours, only to make an abrupt U-turn before disappearing from radar.

Speculation ran wild, with Reuters citing anonymous sources suggesting Assad might have died in a mysterious crash.

However, Russia quickly dismissed these claims, labeling the story as “fake news” and demanding a retraction.

Assad’s Alleged Asylum in Russia

As the story unfolded, Russian state media reported that Assad and his family had fled to Moscow, where they were granted asylum on humanitarian grounds.

This development came amidst the collapse of his regime, with rebels making significant advances into Damascus.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Assad’s resignation but withheld details about his relocation.

The Interfax news agency quoted a Kremlin source stating, “President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow.”

Western officials tentatively corroborated the claim, citing no reason to doubt Moscow’s narrative.

Celebrations and Chaos in Damascus

With Assad’s departure, Syrians flooded the streets of Damascus in jubilation.

The atmosphere echoed the early days of the Arab Spring, as celebratory gunfire and waving revolutionary flags replaced years of oppression.

Crowds stormed the presidential palace, ransacking the residence in a symbolic rejection of the Assad family’s five decades of rule.

Rebel forces declared control over the capital, implementing a curfew and releasing prisoners from the infamous Saydnaya prison.

Videos surfaced online, showing emotional scenes as detainees, including women and children, were freed after years of captivity.

For families like Bassam Masr’s, the joy was bittersweet, with some still searching for missing loved ones.

Russia’s Balancing Act

Russia, Assad’s longtime ally, moved quickly to protect its interests in Syria.

Kremlin sources reassured that Syrian opposition leaders had guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions.

Moscow maintains strategic installations, including a naval base in Tartus and an airfield in Khmeimim, which have played crucial roles in the Syrian conflict since Russia’s military intervention in 2015.

A Russian UN representative announced an emergency meeting of the Security Council to address the unfolding situation.

The Kremlin emphasized the importance of resuming UN-led negotiations for a political solution to the Syrian crisis, acknowledging the far-reaching implications of these events.

A New Chapter for Syria

As the dust begins to settle, rebel leaders have sought to reassure Syria’s diverse communities, vowing inclusivity and a rejection of the Assad regime’s divisive policies.

Anas Salkhadi, a rebel commander, appeared on state television, promising unity among the country’s religious and ethnic groups.

“Syria is for everyone, no exceptions,” he declared, extending a message of reconciliation to a nation scarred by 14 years of civil war.

For many Syrians, this marks the start of a hopeful yet uncertain chapter.

While the fall of the Assad regime has ignited celebrations, rebuilding a nation torn apart by conflict will be an arduous journey.

What lies ahead for Syria and its people remains to be seen.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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