NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene Monday afternoon for an emergency closed door meeting about Syria in the aftermath of president Bashar Assad fleeing the country, multiple diplomatic sources told AFP on Sunday.
The meeting, set for 3:00 p.m. (2000 GMT), was requested by Moscow earlier on Sunday.
Bashar al-Assad Given Asylum in Moscow
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and been granted asylum, Russian news agencies cited a Kremlin source as saying.
Russian official television also reported the news, which put an end to rumors regarding the whereabouts of Syria’s ex-president after opposition forces seized control of Damascus.
Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry announced that Bashar al-Assad “decided to quit the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power”.
US will ‘engage with all Syrian groups’ on transition: Biden
US President Joe Biden on Sunday said Washington would engage with “all Syrian groups” over the political transition following the fall of president Bashar al-Assad.
“We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the UN, to establish a transition away from the Assad rule toward independent, sovereign” Syria “with a new constitution.”
As Syria’s army command notified on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule has ended, the international community has urged the Syrians to exercise calm and strive for the stability of their country.
Bashar al-Assad reportedly flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination, as militants claimed they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.
The leader of the Syrian armed groups Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, ordered forces not to approach official institutions in Damascus, saying they would remain under the prime minister until they are “officially” handed over.
Israel hit arms depots in Syria’s east: War Monitor
Israel launched attacks on weapons depots in the country’s east on Sunday, a war monitor said, following insurgents toppled Bashar Assad’s government earlier Sunday.
“Israel has carried out air strikes on weapon depots and positions that belonged to the defunct government and Iran-backed groups in the eastern Deir Ezzor province,” Rami Abdel Rahman who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP.
He reported “increased Israeli strikes” on such targets since President Bashar Assad fled the country as rebels seized the capital.
US Strikes more than 75 Daesh targets in Syria
American warplanes struck over 75 Islamic State targets in Syria on Sunday, hitting the group’s leaders, operatives and camps, the US military said.
Attacks were carried out against “over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s,” AFO cited the US Central Command social media.
Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Jalali has said that he is ready to “cooperate” with any leadership chosen by the people.
World reacts over Syria
Qatar
Qatar announced that it was closely monitoring the developments in Syria, and underscored the necessity of preserving national institutions and the unity of the state to prevent it from descending into chaos.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement reiterated the state of Qatar’s stance calling for the resolution of the Syrian crisis in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and Security Council Resolution 2254, in a manner that serves the interests of the Syrian people, and preserves the unity, sovereignty, and independence of their country.
The Ministry also called upon all parties to engage in dialogue to safeguard the lives of the citizens, protect the national institutions of the state, and ensure a better future for the brotherly Syrian people and fulfill their aspirations for development, stability, and justice. Furthermore, the Ministry affirmed Qatar’s unwavering support for the Syrian people and their choices.
Iran
Iran in a statement expected the “friendly” ties with Syria to continue after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
“The relations between the two nations of Iran and Syria have a long history and have always been friendly, and it is expected that these relations will continue,” a foreign ministry statement said.
Türkiye
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that the Syrian people will reshape the future of their war-torn country. In a press briefing after collapse of Bashar al-Assad, he said millions of Syrians who were forced to flee can now return home safely.
“The demands of the Syrian people have been ignored, and the regime has been unable to provide even the most basic services,” Fidan stated. “Half of the population has been displaced, contributing to a massive migration crisis.”
He underscored Türkiye’s commitment to Syria’s national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
China
China’s foreign ministry said Sunday it hopes Syria “returns to stability as soon as possible”, after rebels had taken Damascus and sent President Bashar al-Assad fleeing. Beijing “is closely following the development of the situation in Syria and hopes that Syria returns to stability as soon as possible”, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
United States
“President Joe Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” the White House said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, President-elect Donald Trump said al-Assad had “fled his country” after losing the backing of Russia.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said on Sunday that United States will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of Daesh.
France
France welcomed the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad following more than a decade of “violent oppression against his own people”.
Paris appealed to Syrians for “unity and reconciliation, and to reject all forms of extremism”, foreign affairs minister spokesman Christophe Lemoine said in a statement.
Spain
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Sunday said that his country will support a peaceful solution for Syria that provides stability for the region.
Madrid wants “any solution for the future of Syria to be a peaceful one… that benefits the Syrian people and in some way brings new stability to the Middle East and not more instability”, Albares told Spanish public television.
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“We have to take steps to ensure that it’s the Syrian people who decide how they are governed and by whom in future and, of course, that Syria’s territorial integrity is maintained,” he said.
Jordan
Jordanian government in a statement affirmed the significance of preserving the unity and security of Syria in light of the fast-developing recent events. It added that bolstering the state of security in the region “is being worked on”.
Egypt
In a statement by the foreign ministry, Egypt urged all Syrian parties “to unify objectives and priorities and initiate a comprehensive and inclusive political process that lays the groundwork for a new phase of consensus and internal peace.”
The statement, said that Egypt affirms “its stand alongside the Syrian state and people and supports them in preserving Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.”
United Nations
The UN special envoy to Syria said the country was at “a watershed moment” Sunday, after rebels declared they had taken Damascus, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule.
Geir Pedersen in a statement described nearly 14 years of civil war in Syria as a “dark chapter that has left deep scars”.
“Today we look forward with cautious hope to the opening of a new one—one of peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for all Syrians”, he said.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE diplomatic advisor to the president said that non-state actors should not be allowed the opportunity to exploit political vacuums, shortly after Syrian fighters declared the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Damascus.
“Unfolding events in Syria are also a clear indication of political failure and the destructive nature of conflict and chaos,” Anwar Gargash told the Manama Dialogue security forum in the Bahraini capital in the first official comments from the UAE on the matter.
Gargash also urged Syrians to collaborate to avert tumult: “We hope that the Syrians will work together, that we don’t just see another episode of impending chaos.”
Israel
Amichai Chikli, Israeli diaspora affairs minister, said the advances in Syria “are far from a cause for celebration” for his country, as he calls for the renewal of Israel’s control at Mount Hermon in the occupied Golan Heights and the establishment of a new line of defence based on the 1974 ceasefire line with Syria.
Italy
“I am following with concerned attention the evolution of the situation in Syria,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X. “I am in constant contact with our embassy in Damascus and with the office of the Prime Minister. I have called an emergency meeting,” he added.
Seguo con preoccupata attenzione l’evoluzione della situazione in https://t.co/uITO29q5ko contatto costante con la nostra ambasciata a Damasco e con Palazzo Chigi.Alle 1030 ho convocato riunione di emergenza alla Farnesina.
— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) December 8, 2024
