Assad "with high probability" died in a plane crash — Reuters

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "with high probability" died in a plane crash, two sources told Reuters.

What is known about the situation in Syria by this hour:

— Shortly before the capture of Damascus by the rebels, the Syrian Air plane took off from the airport of the Syrian capital. It is assumed that President Bashar al-Assad could have been on board. In flight, the plane suddenly turned in the other direction, and then disappeared from radar, also writes Reuters.

— Bashar al-Assad left Damascus around midnight and flew to the Russian base in Syria. It was assumed that from there he would go to Moscow. This is reported by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, citing sources in the Israeli government.

— The location of the aircraft is still unknown, follows from the data of the Flightradar24 service. The plane took off at 05:00 and disappeared 40 minutes later in the vicinity of the city of Homs. At that time, the ship was at an altitude of 495 meters. The plane could simply turn off the transponder, so Assad's death could be fake.

"It disappeared from radar, maybe the transponder was turned off, but I think it's more likely that the plane was shot down," one Syrian source said.

— The Iranian Embassy in Damascus has been stormed, the Iranian Press TV channel reports.

— Iraq is evacuating its embassy in Damascus amid statements by militants about establishing control over the Syrian capital, the Iraqi agency INA reports.

— The Syrian authorities are holding meetings with militants to provide public services, the head of the country's Industry Ministry told Al Arabiya.

— The Embassy and consular department of the Russian diplomatic mission in Damascus continue to work "normally," the press service of the diplomatic mission reports, the selection was made by the telegram channel Mash.