On December 8, 2024, the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fell to a swift offensive by opposition forces. According to Bloomberg, Russia played a key role in the evacuation of Assad and his family, offering him safe passage in exchange for immediately stepping down. The operation was reportedly organized by Russian intelligence services, which transported the Syrian leader to the Khmeimim airbase, from where he was flown to Moscow.

Bloomberg sources familiar with the situation said the evacuation was carried out in strict secrecy: the plane's transmitter was turned off to avoid surveillance. This allowed Assad and his family to be safely transported to Russia. The Kremlin has so far refrained from making official comments.

According to Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Center for Strategic and Technological Analysis in Moscow, Russia's actions were aimed at minimizing damage and preventing a repeat of the Libyan or Iraqi scenarios.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed to NBC News that Assad had been brought to Moscow. He said Russia was acting within its obligations to ensure the security of its allies in such an unusual situation. Asked about Assad's possible extradition for trial, Ryabkov recalled that Russia is not a party to the International Criminal Court, which rules out the extradition of the former Syrian leader.

The Assad family, according to the British newspaper The Times, may now be living in one of the elite towers in the Moscow City business district. The family reportedly owns up to 20 apartments in the area, allowing them to maintain a high standard of living even after losing power.