Russia confirms Bashar al-Assad's presence in the country following regime collapse

Bashar al-Assad has been transported to Russia for protection following the collapse of his regime in Syria, confirmed Russia’s deputy foreign minister. This marks the first official acknowledgment of Assad's presence in Russia. Russia continues to support Assad despite accusations of war crimes against his regime. The deputy foreign minister stated that Russia is not bound by the International Criminal Court and will not hand over Assad for trial. Ryabkov also expressed concerns about the potential resurgence of the Islamic State in Syria. He mentioned the possibility of future prisoner swaps with the U.S., which could improve relations between the two countries.