Where is Bashar al-Assad? Secretive Flight and Rebel Overrun Adds More Questions on the Future of Syria's Leader
 

Syria's political future remains in a state of disarray as rebel forces have overpowered Damascus, sending rumors regarding President Bashar al-Assad's whereabouts into the fray. Assad, who has ruled Syria for 24 years, hasn't made a public appearance since the rebel offensive began. Having already captured some of Syria's major cities such as Aleppo and Homs, the rebels have taken the capital city. The future of Assad and the country now hangs in the balance.

The mystery deepened early Sunday when reports emerged about a plane that took off from the Damascus airport. According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, the plane went initially in the direction of the coastal region of Syria, but then it made an abrupt U-turn and vanished from radar. Speculations over the disappearance of the plane have sparked rumors that Assad may have fled the country or that the aircraft was shot down. Some sources have claimed that the transponder of the aircraft had been disabled before the plane was lost, which makes things more interesting.

As the insurgents moved closer to Damascus, news surfaced that Asma, the wife of Assad, along with their children, had disappeared as well. No official words from the Assad regime; mixed reports of where Assad was; all remain inconclusive. Syrian state media initially claimed Assad was still in Damascus, and Iranian news agencies released photos of him meeting with an Iranian official. But these reports ceased as the rebels captured key territories, including Homs, which severed the connection between the capital and Assad's coastal strongholds.

With Assad out of the scene, some believe that he has taken refuge in Moscow or Tehran, his main allies in the region. However, the conflicting information about Assad's whereabouts has left the world guessing. The political vacuum created by the fall of Damascus raises concerns about the future of Syria, as rebel forces look to establish control over the country.

As Syria plunges into further uncertainty, all eyes remain on international channels and radar screens for any sign of Assad's fate. While celebrations erupted in rebel-held areas, the mysterious disappearance of Assad and his family leaves the country's future hanging in the balance.