The Russian embassy in Syria assures that its staff are “safe”, that of Iraq evacuated, that of Iran ransacked

The Russian embassy in Syria said its staff were “safe” after the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the capture of Damascus by rebel groups, Russian news agency TASS reported on Sunday.

Syrian rebels announced on state television Sunday morning that they had toppled Assad, ending a 50-year family dynasty in a lightning offensive that raises fears of a new wave of instability in the Middle East, already marked by conflicts.

“We are fine,” a Russian embassy staffer told TASS, without giving details of the diplomats’ whereabouts. On Friday, the embassy urged Russian nationals to leave the country.

Russia, a staunch ally of Assad, intervened decisively in 2015 to support him during the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011. Russian military bloggers have expressed concerns over the fate of two strategically important military installations in Russia in Syria.

Iraqi Embassy

For its part, Iraq announced that it had evacuated its embassy in Syria and transferred its staff to Lebanon, reported the Iraqi state news agency, cited by Reuters. “The staff of the embassy in Damascus, made up of ten employees including the head of the diplomatic mission, was evacuated to Beirut by road,” said an official from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that this operation was decided in reason for “the total withdrawal of the army and the deterioration of security”.

Ambassador of Iran

The Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital was stormed during the night. The Iranian embassy in Syria was ransacked, Iranian state television also claimed, broadcasting images filmed in Damascus by the Saudi channel Al-Arabiya in support.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, for its part, indicated on Sunday that the Chinese government has helped its citizens to leave Syria. He added that Syria must ensure the security of Chinese institutions and personnel and that the Chinese embassy in Syria continues to operate.