The protection of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is not in his usual place of stay in Damascus, which indicates the possibility of the escape of the head of state from the capital. This is reported by CNN, citing a source familiar with the situation. According to the interlocutor of the TV channel, Assad is not in any place in the city where he could be found. He added that the Syrian rebels have no reliable information about the whereabouts of Assad, and they continue to try to find him.
Bloomberg noted that the whereabouts of the president are unknown, but presumably he is in Damascus or in his hometown of Kardaha in northwestern Syria, located near the Russian airbase Khmeimim. A source familiar with US policy also told the agency that Assad may be in Tehran.
Earlier, Assad's press service said that the president was in Damascus and was doing his job.
Rumors about the president's escape from the country appeared against the background of the advance of the Syrian rebels to the capital. Militants captured Aleppo, Hama and Idlib province, and also claimed control of Homs, the third largest city in Syria, located 160 km from the capital. The country's Defense Ministry said that government forces are strengthening the defense line near villages near Damascus.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Egyptian and Jordanian officials suggested that Assad leave the country and form an interim council including opposition representatives. Arab countries, including Qatar and the UAE, have also expressed fears that the Syrian government may fall, which will lead to a destabilization of the situation in the region, RBC reminds.