Conflicting reports emerged on Sunday regarding the whereabouts of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with some suggesting he left Damascus for Russia, while others remain uncertain about his location.

According to Axios, citing an Israeli official, Assad reportedly left Damascus at midnight and headed to Russia’s Hmeimim airbase in Syria, possibly preparing for a trip to Moscow.

This account aligns with reports from Israeli outlets, including Walla, which cited an Israeli official as confirming Assad flew from Damascus to the Russian military base. A U.S. official reportedly corroborated this, claiming U.S. intelligence tracked Assad’s departure from the Syrian capital, suspecting he planned to flee to Russia.

However, skepticism surrounds these claims. Israeli news outlet Channel 12, citing unnamed officials, reported it is not certain whether Assad has actually fled Syria. Furthermore, there are currently no definitive indications confirming his departure.

Moreover, A Syrian Air plane that took off from Damascus airport around the time rebel forces were reported to have seized control of the capital has sparked intense speculation about the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to data from the Flightradar website, the aircraft initially headed towards Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect. However, in an unexpected turn of events, the plane made a sharp U-turn and reversed course for several minutes before disappearing off the radar.

Reuters was unable to immediately confirm who was aboard the aircraft, but two Syrian sources have raised concerns that the incident may be linked to a potential tragedy. They suggested a high probability that Assad could have been killed in a plane crash, as the sudden change in flight path and the subsequent disappearance from the radar remain unexplained.