Ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled to Russia with his family after his regime fell to advancing rebel forces on Sunday. According to Kremlin sources cited by international media, Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted Assad asylum in Moscow.

For over a decade, Putin supported Assad, maintaining Russia’s influence in the Middle East after the failed 2013 diplomatic effort by then-President Barack Obama to dismantle Syria’s chemical weapons. However, Russia’s ongoing military commitments in Ukraine left Assad vulnerable as Syrian rebels advanced with little resistance, reaching Damascus over the weekend.

Bashar-al Assad and his family are safe and alive in Russia, they have been granted asylum.

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The BBC reported that Russian state media confirmed Assad’s arrival in Moscow, though the outlet noted it could not independently verify these claims. Reports also suggested confusion over an escape flight that allegedly crashed, though it is now believed to have been a different aircraft.

Russia’s backing of Assad was deeply rooted in Cold War-era alliances. Despite this, Putin’s ability to assist the embattled dictator dwindled as Russian forces became preoccupied elsewhere. The collapse of Assad’s regime followed a series of setbacks for his allies, including the decimation of Hezbollah forces during recent clashes with Israel in Lebanon.

While Assad’s escape to Moscow underscores the dramatic shift in Syria’s power dynamics, Russian forces remain stationed in Latakia, a coastal city on the Mediterranean. This naval presence highlights Moscow’s continued interest in maintaining its foothold in the region, even as Assad’s government collapses.

The fall of Damascus marks a significant turning point in the Syrian conflict, raising questions about the future of the country’s leadership and the influence of external powers like Russia and Iran. With Assad now reportedly under Kremlin protection, the geopolitical implications of this development are likely to reverberate throughout the region.