Putin grants asylum to ousted Syrian President Assad in Moscow

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin after rebel forces took control of Damascus. The exact location of Assad is not disclosed, and no meeting with Putin is planned. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the asylum decision, stating it was made by Putin. He noted that the situation has surprised many, but did not provide details on Assad's whereabouts or future meetings. Peskov mentioned ongoing discussions about Russia's military presence in Syria amid the instability. He also highlighted the need for dialogue with regional powers and confirmed that no direct contact has been made with US President-elect Donald Trump.