what happened to assad

Bashar al-Assad was overthrown on December 8, 2024, when opposition forces, including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, captured Damascus, marking the end of his regime's rule since 1971. Assad fled to Russia, where he and his family were granted political asylum. Following his departure, the Syrian government dissolved, and opposition forces took control of the country. Since then, Syria has entered a transitional phase under new leadership led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, with efforts to form a diverse transitional government and integrate various armed groups into state institutions. Despite the regime change, Syria's security situation remains fragmented with ongoing complexities. There have been calls from the Syrian caretaker and transitional governments for Assad's extradition from Russia to stand trial for crimes against humanity related to his violent crackdown during the Syrian civil war. Russia has refused these requests, and Assad remains in exile in Moscow, with conditions on his political silence there. Recently, in September 2025, a Syrian court issued an arrest warrant for Assad concerning incidents in Daraa in 2011, aiming for international prosecution through Interpol.