As rebel forces march toward Damascus, speculation about the whereabouts of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dominates debate both inside and outside the war-torn country. This Syrian Observatory for Human Rights It was reported on Sunday that Assad had left Syria Damascus International Airport Following significant territorial losses in a rapid rebel offensive.
However, the report has not been independently verified by the AFP, deepening the mystery surrounding Assad’s whereabouts as his rule faces its biggest challenge in decades.
Conflicting reports of his alleged flights to Russia and Jordan are also emerging.
The rebels sparked reports that Assad had fled Syria
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that President Bashar al-Assad has left Syria via Damascus International Airport following significant regional losses in a rapid rebel offensive. According to Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, Assad left before military security forces evacuated the airport.
Assad’s alleged flight sparks rumours
Reports circulating across Syria claim that Assad may be in Russia or Jordan, fueling rumors of his departure amid one of the most serious challenges to the Assad family’s half-century of rule. Flight records from Damascus are being scrutinized, adding to the uncertainty. Despite official statements that the president lives in the capital, Assad has not been seen in public, fueling further speculation.
Rebel advances threaten Assad’s strongholds
Rebel groups have made rapid advances in western Syria, capturing strategic cities such as Homs and Aleppo, leaving the government in control of only three provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus.
The government’s “ring of steel” around Damascus has failed to prevent the fall of key strongholds, as symbols of Assad’s rule, including statues of his father and brother, have been torn down in newly captured areas.
Iranian and Hezbollah forces retreat
Assad’s allies are also retreating. Lebanese Hezbollah fighters have evacuated areas around Damascus and Homs, with reports indicating some have returned to Latakia or Lebanon. Iran, a crucial ally, has been unable to provide the same level of support as in the past due to distraction from other regional conflicts.
Communal divide deepens
The Syrian conflict, rooted in calls for reform, has turned into a sectarian war. Assad, an Alawite leader, has long positioned himself as a defender against Sunni Islamist groups. However, the emergence of groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has its roots in al-Qaeda, has increased sectarian tensions, even as these groups try to guarantee their security to minorities.
‘red line’
Assad is supported by Syrians who see him as a bulwark against hardline Sunni Islamists, although critics accuse him of fueling sectarianism. Despite Syria’s portrayal as a secular state, the conflict deepened along sectarian lines, with Iranian-backed Shiite militias aiding Assad and rebels in Sunni-led states such as Turkey and Qatar.
Iran declared Assad’s existence a “red line”, while the US Failed to enforce its own against the use of chemical weapons. After a 2013 sarin gas attack killed hundreds, Moscow brokered the destruction of Syria’s chemical stockpile. However, further gas attacks, including one in 2017, prompted limited US retaliation. Assad has denied state involvement.