In a swift turn of events amidst rebel offensives in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad’s decades-long rule has reportedly come to an end. The Islamist armed rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) issued a statement on Sunday declaring, “The capital Damascus is now Assad-free.” As rebels entered the heart of Damascus, Assad reportedly fled aboard a private jet. However, his current whereabouts remain unconfirmed.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister told AFP that Bashar al-Assad is likely outside Syria. Meanwhile, two Syrian security sources quoted by Reuters suggested a high possibility that Assad might have perished in a plane crash. The aircraft carrying him reportedly altered its course unexpectedly after taking off from Damascus, creating a cloud of mystery.
According to global flight tracking website Flightradar, the plane carrying Assad disappeared from Syrian airspace. Flightradar data shows that shortly after rebels reportedly took control of Damascus, a plane took off from Damascus International Airport. Initially heading towards Syria’s coastal region—a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite community—the plane abruptly made a U-turn mid-air. It flew in the opposite direction for a short period before vanishing from radar.
Reuters has not yet confirmed whether Bashar al-Assad was on board. However, Syrian security sources believe it is highly likely. The abrupt U-turn and the subsequent disappearance of the aircraft have sparked widespread speculation.
With the fall of Assad’s regime, millions across the country have taken to the streets in celebration. Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali has called for free elections, allowing citizens to choose their leader. Jalali also mentioned reaching out to the leader of HTS, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, for discussions, marking a significant step toward shaping the country’s political future.
The whereabouts of Assad’s family, including his cancer-stricken wife Asma and their children, remain unknown. Some speculate that Assad might have fled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, Anwar Gargash, the UAE Presidential Diplomatic Adviser, denied knowledge of Assad’s presence in the UAE.
Speaking to journalists at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Gargash dismissed the significance of the speculation, stating, “At the end of the day, this is a footnote in history. I don’t consider it important.”