Assad’s family reportedly flees to Russia amid rebel advances

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s wife and children have reportedly fled to Russia, as his regime faces escalating pressure from rebel forces, The Wall Street Journal reports. Egyptian and Jordanian officials have advised Assad to leave Syria and form a government-in-exile, reflecting the regime’s increasingly fragile position.

Rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have seized control of Aleppo and Hama, two of Syria’s largest cities, and are advancing toward Homs. The fall of Homs would sever key supply lines between Damascus and the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, strongholds of Assad’s Alawite base and home to Russia’s vital Mediterranean naval base.

Elsewhere, regime defenses appear to be faltering. U.S.-backed Kurdish forces captured Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, while uprisings around Daraa province in the south signal growing instability near the Israeli border.

Assad himself remains in Damascus as of Friday, but his family’s departure signals mounting uncertainty. According to The Wall Street Journal, his brothers-in-law have reportedly fled to the United Arab Emirates.

The situation underscores the rapid deterioration of Assad’s control, raising questions about the future of his regime amidst intensified domestic and international challenges.