Monday 9 December 2024
Islamabad (News International / Pakistan News - 09th December, 2024) Russia's official news agency TASS reported, citing the Kremlin, that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country and reached Moscow, where the Russian government has granted him asylum.
TASS further reported, citing sources, that Bashar al-Assad and his family have reached Moscow and that they have all been granted asylum on humanitarian grounds.
Syria: Curfew in Damascus, preparation for transfer of power to interim government
Islamist-led rebels captured Damascus on Sunday morning, forcing Assad to flee, thus ending the Assad family's 50-year rule.
The victorious rebel groups have declared a curfew until 5 am on Wednesday.
Crowds celebrated across the country and some people entered Bashar al-Assad's house.
Ousted President Assad fled Damascus and went abroad, but where?
Abu Muhammad al-Julani, leader of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that is leading the rebel advance, addressed the nation from Damascus’ Umayyad Mosque. “My brothers, this is a historic victory for the region,” he said.
UN Security Council meeting on Syria
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency closed-door meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss the latest developments in Syria after ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country and arrived in Russia.
The emergency meeting of the Security Council has been called for 3pm (New York time) today, the French news agency AFP reported, citing several diplomatic sources.
According to Reuters, Russia had requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday to discuss the situation in Syria.
Statement by US President Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden said that Washington would hold talks with all Syrian groups during the transition of power.
Joe Biden called the revolution in Syria a “historic opportunity” for Syrians to rebuild their country and said that ousted President Bashar al-Assad must be held accountable.
“The removal of the Assad regime is a fundamental act of justice and a historic opportunity for the Syrian people to rebuild their country,” Biden said. He added that Washington would help the Syrians rebuild.
“We will cooperate with all Syrian groups under the leadership of the United Nations to establish a free, sovereign Syria with a new constitution after the Assad regime,” Biden added.
Global response to the situation in Syria
World leaders have called for stability and peace in Syria.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it expects to continue “friendly” relations with Syria and will adopt an “appropriate approach” towards Syria in line with the behavior of influential actors in Damascus.
China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing was closely monitoring the situation in Syria and hoped that Syria would return to stability as soon as possible.
Turkey, which has supported rebel movements in Syria, said it would “help heal Syria’s wounds and guarantee its unity, integrity and security.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Assad’s ouster as the “fall of Iran’s axis of evil.”
He called it “a direct result of Israel’s strikes on Iran and Hezbollah.”
Afghanistan’s Taliban government congratulated the Syrian people and the rebels, expressing hope that the change would lead to “a free and service-oriented Islamic government” and “a Syria free from external interference.”
A senior UAE official urged Syrians to cooperate to prevent chaos.
Germany and the EU react
“This historic change in the region offers opportunities, but it is not without risks,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin was ready to play its part in a political solution to bring peace to the war-torn country. He said Bashar al-Assad had committed brutal atrocities against his own people.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the end of Bashar al-Assad’s “barbaric state” in Syria. “I pay tribute to the Syrian people for their courage, their patience,” he said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for a peaceful and stable Syria, emphasizing the protection of civilians and minorities.
Ukraine’s foreign minister welcomed Assad’s departure, saying, “Dictators who rely on Putin’s support will fall.”
He assured Kiev of support for the Syrian people.
Comments
Post a Comment