UN Security Council convenes an emergency meeting on Syria as Assad flees to Moscow; US strikes hit dozens of IS targets

UNSC to hold emergency meet on Syria

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to hold an emergency closed-door meeting on Monday, December 9, to discuss the rapidly evolving crisis in Syria after President Bashar al-Assad fled the country. According to multiple diplomatic sources cited by AFP, Russia requested the urgent session scheduled for 3:00 pm.

Assad granted asylum in Russia

Reports from Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti confirmed that Assad and his family arrived in Moscow, where they were granted asylum on humanitarian grounds. A Kremlin spokesperson stated, “Assad and his family members have arrived in Moscow. Russia granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds.”

Rebels declare victory

On Sunday, December 8, Syrian rebel factions announced the fall of the Assad regime in a historic televised address on Syrian state television. The rebels declared “the liberation of Damascus” and the “end of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad’s rule.”

A spokesperson from the “Damascus Conquest Operations Room” described the victory as the “end of an era of tyranny.” They called on citizens and fighters to safeguard state properties while pledging to rebuild a “free Syrian state.”

Symbolic end of Assad’s rule

Symbolic acts of defiance followed the fall of Damascus. Citizens toppled statues of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father, marking the end of the Assad family’s five-decade rule. Jubilant celebrations erupted across the capital, with residents chanting slogans for freedom and waving the Syrian opposition’s flag.

Strategic gains and rebel control

The rebels, led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), captured key cities including Homs, Daraa, Quneitra, and Suwayda in a lightning offensive. The fall of these critical cities paved the way for the takeover of Damascus, isolating Assad’s remaining loyalist forces.

Opposition forces also stormed the notorious Sednaya Prison, freeing thousands of detainees long considered political prisoners. Describing the development as the “end of the era of injustice,” the rebels announced that all prisoners had been released.

US response and airstrikes

The sudden power shift prompted international concern about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS). On Sunday, the US launched airstrikes targeting dozens of Islamic State positions in central Syria. President Joe Biden warned that Assad’s fall could create a power vacuum, allowing ISIS to regroup.

“We are clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capabilities and create a safe haven,” Biden said during a White House address. “We will not let that happen.”

The US confirmed that its deployment of 900 troops in Syria would remain in place to prevent an ISIS resurgence and support counter-terrorism efforts.

Global reactions and next steps

With the UN Security Council set to meet, international leaders are weighing responses to the unfolding crisis. Russia’s asylum offer to Assad underscores its continued influence in the region despite the collapse of Assad’s government.

Meanwhile, world leaders are closely monitoring the situation, as Syria faces an uncertain future shaped by new power dynamics and potential challenges in maintaining stability.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post UN Security Council convenes an emergency meeting on Syria as Assad flees to Moscow; US strikes hit dozens of IS targets appeared first on PGurus.