Intellinews, 12/8/24
Opposition forces have seized control of Syria’s strategic Mediterranean port city of Tartus, consolidating their grip on the country following the dramatic fall of Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad’s departure.
The capture of Tartus, home to a significant Russian naval facility, marks another milestone in the opposition’s swift campaign that has seen them secure control of most major Syrian cities in less than two weeks.
Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, who remains in the country with several cabinet members, confirmed he has established contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leadership, the group that led the advance into Damascus. However, he said he has lost contact with both the president and former defence minister.
“The prime minister, along with key ministers, remains in Syria, though we have no information about the whereabouts of the president or defence minister”, a government spokesman told state media, which is now under opposition control.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry earlier confirmed that Assad had left Syria after negotiations with conflict participants, though Moscow stressed it was not involved in these talks.
Moscow’s Kremlin later confirmed he had arrived safely in Moscow, Tass later reported.
As bne IntelliNews was first to report on December 7, Assad fled Syria to Abu Dhabi before flying on to Moscow, where the rest of his family had already been in exile for a week and where his eldest son was studying at Moscow State University.
The ministry said Assad had ordered a peaceful transfer of power before his departure.
The fall of Tartus raises questions about the future of Russia’s naval facility in the city, which has served as Moscow’s sole Mediterranean naval base.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has previously stated its military installations in Syria remain secure, though the rapidly evolving situation may present new challenges.
Earlier in the day, Syrian opposition forces claimed the television station of the state broadcaster SANA and began producing updated news bulletins under the new rule.