Speculation is mounting over the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after the fall of his government.
While senior Syrian military officers claim Assad fled the country via plane, conflicting reports from Israeli sources suggest there is no confirmation of his departure from Syria.
According to sources, Assad's aircraft Ilyushin Il-76 reportedly disappeared from radar shortly after rebels took control of the capital. Some Syrian officials have alleged that the plane crashed, though no official confirmation has been made.
The uncertainty has been compounded by reports from the British Telegraph indicating that Egyptian and Jordanian officials previously advised Assad to leave Syria and establish a government-in-exile.
Meanwhile, Assad’s family is believed to have left Syria for Russia last week, and reports suggest his brother-in-law has sought refuge in the UAE.
Rebels claim to have penetrated key areas in Damascus, freeing prisoners from Sednayah military prison and encountering little to no resistance from the Syrian army. Al Jazeera reported that government officials and regime elements had vacated the defense ministry headquarters in the city.
The international community awaits clarity on Assad’s fate as the new power dynamics in Syria continue to unfold.
Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76, known by its NATO reporting name "Candid," is a four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin bureau in 1967. Initially developed as a commercial freighter to replace the Antonov An-12, it is capable of delivering heavy machinery to remote areas and operating from unpaved runways.
Read more:
Syrian rebels say they have toppled Assad in state television announcement
Syria’s civil war: Key reasons and what future holds
Damascus falls as Syrian army command tells officers that Bashar al-Assad's rule has ended
