Bashar al-Assad flees to Moscow after being overthrown by Syrian rebels

Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled Syria and is now in Moscow with his family after being overthrown by Syrian rebels. The opposition captured key locations in Damascus early Sunday, leading to a swift government withdrawal. Russian state media confirmed that Assad has been granted asylum in Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Assad resigned and left Syria following negotiations for a peaceful transfer of power. Syrian state television announced that all prisoners had been released following Assad's overthrow. The new opposition group called for the preservation of a "free Syrian state" and expressed readiness to form a transitional government.