In London, a Home Office spokesperson said it had "temporarily paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation". The spokesperson added: "We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues."
The moves come despite a lack of clarity over what lies ahead for Syria, one day after rebel forces seized the capital and the president, Bashar al-Assad, fled to Russia.
Among the first in Europe to react was Germany, home to Europe's largest Syrian diaspora after taking in nearly a million Syrians fleeing the country's devastating war.
Germany's interior minister, Nancy Faeser, said in a statement that the end of Assad's "brutal tyranny" had come as a great relief to many: "Many refugees who have found protection in Germany finally have hope of returning to their Syrian homeland and rebuilding their country."
She cautioned, however, that "the situation in Syria is currently very unclear", citing the "volatile situation" as to why the country's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had imposed a freeze on decisions for asylum procedures. More than 47,000 asylum applications from Syrians are pending.
Countries across Europe swiftly followed suit, even as questions continue to swirl over what comes next for Syria.
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