he Indonesian Embassy in Damascus has started the evacuation process for citizens residing in Syria following the lightning overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by insurgent rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) less than two weeks after the group took control of some of the country’s key cities.
“The first wave of the evacuations was for 37 Indonesian citizens. The entourage departed Syria on Dec. 10 at 2:00 p.m. local time and made a brief stopover in Beirut before continuing to Indonesia on Dec. 11,” the Embassy announced on Tuesday through its Instagram account, without providing details on the next evacuation plan.
The Foreign Ministry, however, said previously that it would continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that all elements including the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) are ready to carry out the evacuation if needed.
Assad fled the country to Russia as Syrian rebels swept into the capital Damascus on Sunday, bringing an end to five decades of Assad family rule.
Prime Minister Mohammad Jalali subsequently agreed on Monday to hand power to the rebel-led Salvation Government based in rebel-held territory in northwest Syria, Reuters reported.
Read also: Israeli troops near Damascus, say Syrian security
Following recent escalations in the Middle East country, the Foreign Ministry set the highest alert status for all 14 Syrian provinces, urging all citizens to remain cautious and prepare bags containing important documents and valuables in case of a sudden evacuation.
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