Where is Assad? After the fall of Damascus he disappeared

Where is Assad? After the fall of Damascus he disappeared

While many in Syria are expecting the end of the long rule of Bashar al-Assad After celebrating, rumors about his whereabouts are circulating. Russia has declared that Assad has left Syria - where exactly he fled remains unclear.

The whereabouts of Assad and his family

Assad has not been seen or heard from since the rebels announced that Damascus was "liberated" after sweeping through the capital and capturing key points. The whereabouts of his wife and two children are also unknown.

Assad's mixed record during the unrest

Since the beginning of the uprising As the rebels advanced rapidly across the country, Assad kept a low profile. After meeting with Iran's foreign minister last weekend, he said he wanted to fight "terrorist organizations" but otherwise made little comment as rebels seized major cities.

Speculation about Assad's escape

On Saturday, as rebels surrounded Damascus, a source told CNN that Assad was nowhere to be found in the city. In addition, Assad's presidential guards were no longer stationed at his usual residence, fueling speculation about his escape.

Disputes over information

Syria's presidential office dismissed reports that Assad had left Damascus or traveled to another country. It said some foreign media were “spreading rumors and false news.”

The persecution and the reactions of the rebels

After the rebels took the capital, they announced that he had fled and were looking for him. Some militants as well as civilians began looting his official residences.

Russia's statement

Amid the rumors, Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday saying Assad had "decided to leave the presidential office and leave the country with a mandate to peacefully transfer power." The statement emphasized that Russia “did not take part in these negotiations.”

Assad under Russian protection?

A source close to the rebels told CNN that the ousted president left Damascus under Russian protection, while another source said he traveled to Latakia in northwestern Syria, where Russia has an air base.

About the possible destination of Assad's escape

Flight tracking data shows a plane took off from Damascus airport toward the coast shortly before 2 a.m. local time on Sunday before suddenly turning around over the city of Homs and disappearing from radar. CNN cannot confirm whether Assad was on board that plane.

Where could Assad end up?

Russia is an obvious destination, although the State Department did not say where he would be headed. Iran could also be an option. Wherever he ends up, it will be an abrupt and dishonorable end to more than two decades in power.