- Russian state media reports that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow and has been granted asylum, after the Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that he stepped down and left the country.
- Syrian opposition fighters say al-Assad’s 24-year rule has come to an end after they seized the capital, Damascus.A curfew has been declared in Damascus after people took to the streets there and elsewhere to celebrate the downfall of al-Assad’s government.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights following the opposition’s takeover in Syria.The dramatic turn of events comes after opposition forces seized several strategic cities in a lightning offensive.
PIJ: Israel ‘exploiting’ Syria situation to expand occupation
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad says Israel’s move to capture the buffer zone in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was proof of the “expansion of its occupation on Syrian lands”, and showed that it is “the real enemy of the peoples of our nation”.
“The Israeli aggression is a blatant assault on the Syrian people and their will, and an exploitation of the situation for expansionist goals,” the group added.
Syrians in Kuala Lumpur celebrate fall of al-Assad
In front of the Syrian Embassy in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, several people celebrated the opposition’s capture of Damascus and the fall of the al-Assad government.
A convoy of cars has driven around various streets of the city, with opposition flags, chanting for Syria and its people.
Earlier, the Syrian opposition flag was raised on the embassy’s mast, and people distributed sweets in celebration of al-Assad’s ousting.
Syrian embassies worldwide change their social media photos after fall of al-Assad
Several Syrian embassies around the world changed their official social media profile pictures to the flag of the Syrian revolution after the announcement of the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the opposition’s taking of control over the capital, Damascus.
The embassies include Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jakarta, Indonesia and Cairo, Egypt and others.
Some Syrian embassies also republished a statement from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the Syrian Arab Republic and its diplomatic missions abroad will continue to serve all citizens, managing their affairs, based on the trust it holds in representing the Syrian people, and that the homeland remains the highest.”
Iranian FM: ‘Assurances’ given that holy sites, embassy in Syria will be protected
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that the country has spoken with “various parties” about “the security of our embassy and our consulate in Aleppo, as well as the safety of the holy shrines of Zainab and Ruqayyah”, in Syria.
“We have been given assurances that the sanctity of these sites will be preserved and that the respect for our embassy will also be upheld”, he said, during a televised interview.
“Unfortunately, early this morning, there was an intrusion into our embassy. However, the scenes indicate that it was not an organized or armed intrusion, based on the footage we reviewed, it appears that some of those involved were ordinary people”, he added.
Iran’s Abbas Araghchi on fall of al-Assad regime
We have more for you from the Iranian foreign minister, from the televised interview he gave this evening on developments in Syria:
- During recent discussions with Bashar al-Assad, Iran raised numerous recommendations regarding the Syrian army.
- Iran emphasised the need to boost the army’s morale and suggested measures to achieve this. However, this responsibility primarily rested with President al-Assad to strengthen the motivation and morale of the army, while Iran provided assistance to the best of its ability.
- Another important issue was fostering greater interaction between the Syrian government and its people. Ultimately, the key to sustaining governments lies in public support.
- Iran also has a specific concern regarding the opportunistic behaviour of the Zionist [Israeli] regime. As of last night, there have been some movements suggesting an attempt to reclaim areas in the Golan Heights.
- Araghchi issues a serious warning regarding these developments, and is also aware that resistance groups in the region are closely monitoring these actions by the Zionist regime.