Russian Foreign Ministry says Assad's decision to resign as Syrian president and leave the country

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has decided to leave the post of the head of state and leave the country as a result of negotiations with the opposition. This was stated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Russian Federation on December 8.

"As a result of the negotiations held B. Assad with a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the SAR, he decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, instructing to carry out the transfer of power peacefully," - said in the Telegram-channel of the Department.

It is noted that Russia did not take part in the negotiations.

Russia is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition and is taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens, the Foreign Ministry pointed out.

"Russian military bases on the territory of Syria are on high alert. At the moment there is no serious threat to their security," the ministry added.

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On the same day, it was reported that Syrian formations took control of the Seidnaya prison in the suburbs of Damascus. They released all the prisoners. Later it was reported that opposition forces stormed the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

In the morning of the same day, the media reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left Damascus. It was specified that the Syrian Air airplane took off from the airport of the capital, but later the board disappeared from the radar.

Prime Minister of the SAR Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali said that most of the ministers of the Syrian government remain in Damascus. He also emphasized that he is ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the people and noted that a new stage has begun in Syria's history.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed its forces in the buffer zone and "a number of other places" near the border with Syria for defense purposes. At the same time, the Israeli army emphasized that it "does not interfere in internal developments in Syria."

On November 29, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called the activation of the opposition part of the US plan against the backdrop of Israel's defeat in Lebanon. At the same time, the White House denied its involvement in the events.