Russia organised for Bashir al-Assad to flee to Moscow via its air base on the Syrian coast as rebels broke into Damascus on Sunday, Kremlin sources have said.

Three sources close to the Russian government told Bloomberg News that its agents persuaded the dictator he would lose a fight with the rebels and that he needed to flee the country immediately.

Assad followed the advice and reportedly fled Damascus without telling his closest advisers and friends in case he was betrayed.

Once his private jet had taken off from the capital, its transponder was switched off and the aircraft flew to Russia’s Khmeimim air base on the Syrian coast.

There, Assad headed to Moscow, possibly after transferring to a Russian military plane.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, personally approved the rescue of Assad on Sunday and has guaranteed his safety in exile, although he has no intention of meeting him, Kremlin sources said.