The United Nations Security Council will urgently convene Monday afternoon (10pm Greek time) on Syria in the aftermath of president Bashar al-Assad’s flight from the country.
The Islamist rebel coalition, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has emerged as the dominant force in Syria, with its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, triumphantly entering Damascus shortly after the capital fell into rebel hands.
In a symbolic move, HTS broadcast its first news bulletin on state television on Sunday, declaring victory over what it described as “the criminal regime” of Assad.
The UN Security Council emergency session was requested by Moscow, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN Dmitry Polyansky posted on Telegram on Sunday.
Reports emerged late Sunday night from Russian media outlets that Bashar al-Assad and his family had fled to Moscow. The Kremlin has reportedly granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds.
The ousting of Assad marks a significant shift in the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape, with HTS consolidating control in Syria. The group’s Islamist ideology and its potential alliances are causing concern among international stakeholders, including neighboring countries and global powers.
