By Steve Rosenberg
BBC Russia Editor
December 10, 2024
For nearly a decade, Russian military support was crucial in keeping Bashar al-Assad in power. However, recent developments have turned the situation on its head.
Damascus has fallen, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been ousted, reportedly fleeing to Moscow. Russian state television and news agencies, citing a Kremlin source, report that Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia for "humanitarian reasons."
This sudden turn of events has exposed the fragility of Moscow's Syria strategy. The collapse of Assad’s regime, just days after Moscow’s efforts to maintain control, marks a significant failure for the Kremlin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement expressing "deep concern" over the evolving situation in Syria.
The loss of the Assad government is a major blow to Russia's global standing. When Moscow deployed thousands of troops in 2015 to prop up Assad, it was not only about preserving a key ally but also about asserting itself as a dominant global power.
