In a dramatic turn of events, ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow on Sunday, seeking refuge in Russia hours after a stunning rebel advance that saw Syrian insurgents seize control of the capital, Damascus, and bring an end to the Assad family’s 50-year rule over the country.

Russian news agencies Tass and RIA confirmed that Assad, along with his family, had been granted asylum by Russia, his long-time ally and protector, citing an unnamed Kremlin source.

In the hours following Assad’s flight, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel faction, declared the fall of the Assad regime a victory for Syria’s people. Speaking at a mosque in Damascus, al-Golani—who now embraces pluralism and religious tolerance—stated that Assad’s departure was a necessary step to free Syria from Iran’s influence, referring to Assad’s close ties with Tehran.

Al-Golani now finds himself at the forefront of a fractured country. With his forces securing key parts of the capital and other major cities, the rebels face the daunting task of navigating Syria’s deep ethnic and religious divides, with Kurdish, Alawite, Druze, and Christian communities all fearing potential reprisals.

As celebrations continued in Damascus, the U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for urgent talks to ensure an orderly political transition. Russia has called for an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to discuss the situation, with its deputy permanent representative to the U.N., Dmitry Polyansky, noting the gravity of the moment.

With Assad’s departure marking the end of a long era of authoritarian rule, Syria now faces an uncertain future, with competing factions vying for control and the daunting task of rebuilding a nation torn apart by war.