Russia announced today on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have received political asylum in Russia and arrived in Moscow.

The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier issued a statement indicating that Assad left Damascus and “ordered a non-violent transfer of power.” A few minutes before the Russian announcement, a Russian transport plane took off from the Russian base in Latakia, Syria.

Kan News�reported that according to Ukrainian intelligence, Assad’s escape operation from Syria to Russia was meticulously planned by Russian intelligence, including carrying out a deceptive operation during which the plane carrying Assad disappeared from radar.

Following the operation, Reuters published a report suggesting that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash.

In reality, Russian intelligence officials were managing the flight and issuing instructions to the pilots.

(YWN Israel Desk � Jerusalem)