President Assad departed Syria and issued directives for a peaceful transition of power

On Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that President Bashar al-Assad has chosen to resign following discussions with “various parties involved in the armed conflict within the Syrian Arab Republic.”

According to statements from Russia, President Assad has issued directives to facilitate a peaceful transition of power.

The ministry has refrained from disclosing additional details concerning the current location of President Assad.

In a recent statement, Moscow clarified its non-participation in the negotiations, while urging all involved parties to abstain from violence and to address governance issues through political dialogue.

The Russian Federation is reportedly engaging in communications with various factions of the Syrian opposition, according to sources familiar with the diplomatic efforts.

The Russian government announced that its military installations in the Arab nation have been placed on high alert. However, officials emphasized that there is no immediate or severe threat to these bases at present.

On Saturday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called for the initiation of “political dialogue” between the Syrian government and armed opposition groups. This appeal followed a meeting with his counterparts from Russia and Turkey, which took place in the Qatari capital, Doha. The discussions highlighted the need for continued dialogue as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict.

Araghchi announced that a unanimous agreement was reached among all parties involved, emphasizing the immediate cessation of hostilities in Syria. Additionally, there was a strong call for the respect of Syria’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, in accordance with the UN resolution.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, was present at the meeting, where he called on all involved parties to prioritize a political resolution in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, emphasizing the importance of avoiding further bloodshed.

The hostilities commenced on November 27 when the militant faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) initiated a significant offensive in Syria’s northwest, targeting the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. During this operation, the group successfully captured several territories.

The group seized control over sections of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city, and progressed in a southward direction towards Hama. Earlier on Sunday, the armed faction announced their takeover of the capital, Damascus.