Assad's government collapses and he flees Syria for Russia

On 8 December 2024, the Assad government's control collapsed as opposition forces entered Damascus and the long-running presidency ended. Assad left Syria and was later reported to have received asylum in Russia. The event closed more than two decades of his presidency and more than five decades of Assad-family rule. This fact does not assign a single cause for the regime's collapse; it records the terminal political event, Assad's departure and his asylum status as described in the source on the fall of the regime.