Assad is in Moscow after fleeing Syria and will be given aslyum, Russian state media reports

BBC, Dec 9: Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad arrives in Moscow after fleeing Damascus, Russian state media report

Russia was a key ally of Assad's regime - the former president and his family will now reportedly get asylum there

Assad fled when rebel group HTS swept into the capital this weekend - earlier, rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani addressed cheering crowds in a Damascus mosque

The BBC is the only western news organisation reporting from inside Damascus

I was metres way from Jawlani - seeing him in the heart of old Damascus felt surreal, writes our correspondent Feras Kilani

Our correspondents have witnessed crowds celebrating on the streets, and have watched while Syrians loot Assad's former residence

They have also heard explosions in Damascus - unconfirmed reports say Israel is striking the city, although Israel has not commented