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Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad fled the country on Sunday as rebel groups reached Damascus, leading to the fall of his regime.
A Syrian anti government fighter shoots against a large banner bearing a picture of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, hanging on the facade of a municipal building in the west-central city of Hama (AFP)
Syrian Regime Falls: Syria’s ousted President Bashar Al-Assad, who fled the country on Sunday morning after rebels stormed Damascus, may have been killed in a plane crash, sources told news agency Reuters.
The report cited the “unexplained U-turn and disappearance” of Assad’s flight from the capital city, according to Flightradar data.
Meanwhile, Russia has said that Assad has resigned from the post of the President of Syria and left the country to an unknown destination. Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali earlier said that he didn’t know the whereabouts of Assad and his defence minister. He told the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya that they lost communication Saturday night.
What Fueled Speculations Of Assad’s Death?
Reuters cited data from the Flightradar website and reported that a Syrian plane took off from the Damascus airport around the same time when the capital city was stormed by the anti-regime forces.
The flight initially moved towards Syria’s coastal region which is believed to be his stronghold. However, the plane made a U-turn abruptly and flew in the opposite direction for some time before it disappeared from the map. The abrupt U-turn and disappearance from the radar fueled speculations Assad might have been killed mid-air.
The flight data indicates that the jet descended sharply from 3,650 metres to 1,070 metres in the minutes before disappearing, fuelling speculation it may have been targeted as it crossed the rebel-held territory of Homs.
No Clarity If Assad Was On Board
Two Syrian sources told Reuters that there was a “very high probability” that the fleeing President may have been killed “if he was on the plane”.
One source said that the possibility of the transponder being switched off also exists, “but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down”.
Assad Seeking Refuge In Moscow?
As the rebel advanced, there were speculation that he may seek refuge in Russia or Iran.
As per the report, Assad was visiting Moscow just before the rebel offensive and Iranian news agencies published a photograph of him that showing him meeting a top Iranian official in Damascus.
Assad has not spoken in public since the rebels advance a week ago, when insurgents seized northern Aleppo in a surprise attack before marching into a succession of cities as frontlines crumbled.
Who Is Bashar Al-Assad?
Bashar Al-Assad came to power succeeding his father Hafez Al-Assad in 2000 and ruled Syria for over two decades till an armed rebellion overthrew his regime.
Bashar Al-Assad’s father’s rule over Syria with an iron grip for nearly three decades was seen as repressive by many.
Assad’s legacy will be indelibly marked by his handling of the 2011 protests, which spiralled into a devastating civil war. The conflict claimed over half a million lives, forced six million people to become refugees, and left countless others internally displaced.
The removal of Assad, who has not been heard from since the rebels’ claim, brings an end to more than 50 years of his family’s rule in Syria.
People Celebrate Assad’s Ouster
The Syrians, especially the supporters of the rebel group, gathered to celebrate in the central squares of Damascus and other cities, ringing out celebratory gunshots and honking horns.
In Syria, the opposition forces also reportedly freed all the detainees from Damascus’ notorious Sednaya jail, announcing an “end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya”.
(With inputs from Reuters)
- Location :
Damascus, Syria