Putin grants asylum to ousted Syrian leader Assad following rebel uprising

Vladimir Putin has granted political asylum to Bashar al Assad, the ousted Syrian leader, after Assad fled to Moscow amid a rebel uprising. This decision was confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Assad's government was toppled following a rapid 10-day offensive by Syrian rebels, culminating in his surrender. Rebels celebrated in Damascus, sharing videos of their takeover and looting Assad's presidential palace. Russia has been a crucial supporter of Assad, sending troops since 2015 to help him maintain power. In return, Assad allowed Russia to establish military bases in Syria, strengthening its presence in the Middle East.