The United States intends to hold Assad accountable

The United States, through appropriate channels, will raise the issue of bringing to justice the retired Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, the White House said.

"I have seen information that Russia has given political asylum to Assad... I think we will continue to raise the issue of responsibility through appropriate channels," said a senior US administration official.

US President Joe Biden said earlier that "Assad should be held accountable."

Earlier, representatives of the armed opposition in Syria, who seized state television, appeared on the air claiming that they had established control over the country. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali said that he remains in the country with several ministers, but they do not know where the defense minister is. The prime minister also said that he had established contact with the leadership of the armed opposition.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after talks with a number of participants in the Syrian conflict, decided to resign and left Syria, giving instructions to peacefully transfer power, while Russia did not participate in the negotiations.

On Sunday, December 8, a Kremlin source told RIA Novosti that Assad and his family members arrived in Moscow — Russia granted them asylum based on humanitarian considerations. The agency's interlocutor also noted that Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed the security of military bases and diplomatic institutions. The Russian Federation is on the territory of Syria.