Overthrow in Syria: Ruler Assad leaves the country
By Weedah Hamzah, Johannes Sadek, Christoph Meyer, Christiane Jacke, Cindy Riechau, Amira Rajab and Holger Mehlig
Damascus (Syria) - The civil war in Syria has been going on for more than 13 years . Now things are moving at breakneck speed. The rebels launched their offensive just a week and a half ago - and appear to have achieved their goal.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad (59) has left his post and the country. It is unclear where he has fled to.
Cheers broke out in the center of Damascus after Assad's escape. Residents clapped in the street and some could be seen praying, as eyewitnesses reported.
According to Syria's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali (55), he remained in the country and wants to cooperate with a change of power.
He called on citizens to cooperate in the current developments and not to damage public property.
Syria could be a "normal state" with friendly relations with its neighbors. He himself has no interest in any political office or other privileges. "We believe that Syria belongs to all Syrians."
What Russia thinks of the Syrian unrest

Disillusionment and disappointment spread in Moscow.
Under the current conditions of the civil war that has flared up, Russia can no longer support Syria, wrote the prominent foreign politician and deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, on Telegram. "The Syrians must now deal with this on their own."
Moscow will only help if the Syrian people want it, said Kosachev.
Russia maintains an air force base in Syria and a naval base with warships in the Mediterranean port of Tartus. The presence there is of strategic importance for Russia due to its access to the Mediterranean.
Iraq closes border crossing to Syria

Due to the current developments in Syria, Iraq has closed the border crossing to the neighboring country.
The Al-Kaim border crossing has been closed and the border completely secured, reported the Iraqi state news agency INA. There are also no remaining insurgents or government troops on the Syrian side.
Syrians living in Germany have reacted to the news from their homeland with a mixture of hope and fear.
The majority of the refugees are opponents of the regime. Some Syrians had left their country out of fear of Islamist rebels and terrorists or out of material hardship as a result of the civil war.
A few dozen people gathered in Berlin-Neukölln at the weekend to celebrate the advance of the rebels.
Concerns about the intentions of the new rulers, who include fighters from Islamist groups, were expressed above all by members of religious minorities, who were "very afraid of the unknown", said Tareq Alaows, spokesman for Pro Asyl.
First reported: 8.30 a.m., last updated: 1.54 p.m.