Following his ouster, the whereabouts of the former Syrian leader remain unknown. As rumours continue to spread regarding the Syrian leader's whereabouts, Russia has shared a key update.
After 24 years as President, Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebel leaders on Sunday. Following his ouster, the whereabouts of the former Syrian leader remain unknown. As rumours continue to spread regarding the Syrian leader's whereabouts, Russia has shared a key update.
Russian Foreign Minister has confirmed that President Bashar al-Assad has left Syria. As per Moscow, Assad “decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully."
Ahead of this confirmation, several reports have speculated that the Syrian president's plane crashed, leaving no survivors.
The rumours started after reports citing data from Flightradar, a Syrian airplane took off from Damascus airport at the same time the capital was to have been taken over by rebel forces.
However, sources have stated that the flight took a sharp U-turn and then seemingly disappeared off the radar.
"It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down," stated one such source.
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Media reports and social media users continue to speculate that the plane carrying Bashar al-Assad has likely crashed.
"Unconfirmed information is being circulated about the sudden descent of the plane that was reportedly carrying Assad after it disappeared from radar and dropped suddenly from an altitude of over 3,650 meters to 1,070 meters in a few minutes, just outside Lebanese airspace north of Akkar," stated one such user on X.
Another netizen noted that the plane dropped by 6700 meters in mere seconds before going off the radar.
Anti-government forces are questioning military officers and intelligence officials who may have information regarding his whereabouts.
Along with al-Assad, the whereabouts of his wife Asma and their two children also remain unknown.
Syria has been embroiled in a civil war for the past 13 years. Last week, the war escalated as rebel forces marched into Aleppo and now Damascus, declaring the city "free".