Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow during the opposition forces’ takeover of Damascus on Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. He and his family have been granted political asylum.

This confirms a previous Associated Press report of Assad’s departure, as a private jet was detected leaving Damascus airport early Sunday morning. It flew east to the Syrian desert, then north towards Homs, where it lost signal.

Despite the Russian announcement, Assad has not been seen since.

The Kremlin previously announced that Assad left Syria after instructing his government to have a peaceful transition of power with the opposition, according to the AP.

However, a report by Al Jazeera suggests that Assad fled hours before the opposition encircled Damascus and ordered his forces to defend the capital, contrary to the Kremlin’s claim.

Russia, a key ally of Assad, helped his regime maintain power in the Syrian Civil War, which raged on for 13 years after the Assad regime ordered its military to fire upon pro-democracy demonstrations across the country.

The Kremlin holds two Soviet-era military bases in the northwestern regions of Latakia and Tartus, which it used to launch deadly air raids on opposition targets since 2011. It announced on Monday that it aims to maintain its bases in Syria under the new administration, according to an Al Jazeera report.

With Assad’s political asylum, Russian media reported that opposition forces have made an agreement with the Kremlin, ensuring the bases will remain untouched.

United States President Joe Biden on Sunday said “The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice,” however, it is also “a moment of risk and uncertainty,” as the opposition try to impose law and order throughout the country.

Biden also affirmed that “Assad should be held accountable.”