By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - The UK Home Office on Monday announced a temporary halt to decisions on asylum claims from Syrian nationals following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The pause comes as the government assesses the rapidly evolving situation in Syria, where opposition forces have taken control and celebrations of Assad's ouster have echoed across the country and the Syrian diaspora.
“The Home Office has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation. We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues,” said a spokesperson for the Home Office.
The decision affects thousands of Syrians currently awaiting a determination on their asylum applications.
Many fear that uncertainty over the political direction in Syria could complicate their future in the UK, particularly as the opposition groups that toppled the regime begin the challenging process of forming a government.
Experts and observers are closely monitoring the situation, with questions arising over the stability of a post-Assad Syria and the potential for further conflict.
On Nov. 27, Syrian opposition forces launched a 10-day lightning offensive, capturing key cities, and then on Dec. 8 the capital Damascus. The rapid advance, supported by defecting military units, led to the collapse of the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war.
Assad and his family fled to Moscow, where Russia granted them asylum.