Assad Flees to Moscow as Syrian Rebels Seize Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia as rebel forces swiftly captured Damascus, marking the end of his regime. The former prime minister has agreed to transfer power to the rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with roots in al Qaeda. The fall of Assad's government, which had been supported by Russia and Iran, is seen as a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The US and Israel are closely monitoring the situation, with concerns about ISIS exploiting the power vacuum and the future role of HTS, a US-designated terrorist organization.