Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left Damascus and may be abroad. According to sources for the newspaper Axios, he is on his way to Moscow. The latest official information on his whereabouts is from Saturday night.
The militia entered Damascus on the night of Sunday and announced early in the morning that al-Assad’s regime has fallen. They later repeated the message in a televised speech on state Syrian television.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, like other ministers, has been in contact with the militia to talk about a change of power and a transition period.
“I am in my house and I have not left, and it is because I am part of this country,” al-Jalali said in a video statement, explaining that he would continue his work in the morning.
– We are prepared to cooperate, he said.
On the way to hotel to hand over power
A clip has been circulated on social media that is said to show the prime minister being escorted away by the jihadist-led rebels.
In the clip, it is said that the Prime Minister is on his way to the Four Seasons hotel to hand over power.
The leader of the HTS rebels, Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, is calling for a peaceful transition of power.
“All military forces in the city of Damascus are strictly prohibited from approaching public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister until they are officially handed over,” he announced.
Later in the day, pictures were published of al-Assad’s palace being looted.