Assad makes first statement after fleeing Syria

The office of the former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad issued a statement on his behalf. It says that Assad stayed in Damascus on the morning of December 8 and left the country only in the evening of the same day.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from his office on Telegram.

The appeal states that Assad stayed in Damascus until the early morning of December 8 and left the country only in the evening of the same day. It also states that his departure from Syria was not planned.

After the rebels entered Damascus, Assad “in coordination with his Russian allies” moved to Latakia to observe the fighting.

“Upon arrival at the Khmeimim airbase that morning, it became clear that our forces had completely withdrawn from all combat lines, and the last army positions had fallen. <...> Since it was impossible to leave the base, Moscow asked the base command to organize an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, December 8,” the statement reads.

The statement also quotes Assad himself, who claims that during these events he “never once thought about resigning or seeking asylum” and did not receive any such offers.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 17/12/2024