December 7, 2024 — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s wife, Asma al-Assad, along with their three children, traveled to Russia last week, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bild. Asma, born in London and a British citizen, married Bashar al-Assad in 2000.
In related developments, a relative from Assad’s sister’s family reportedly fled to the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, conflicting reports have emerged regarding calls from Egyptian and Jordanian officials for Assad to leave Syria and form a government in exile. The Jordanian embassy in Washington has denied these claims.
On the ground, the Islamist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continues its offensive, capturing significant territories near Homs, Syria’s third-largest city. Syrian government forces have withdrawn from Homs, though pro-government militias remain. Thousands of residents fled the city on Friday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The United States and Jordan have urged their citizens to leave Syria. The U.S. government has recommended immediate departure via commercial flights from Damascus, citing the unpredictable security situation. The American embassy in Syria, suspended since 2012, issued a warning on its website.
