Remarks attributed to al-Assad, released by the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel, say state fell into ‘hands of terrorism’.
In the first public remarks attributed to Bashar al-Assad since he left Syria, the deposed Syrian president has defended his rule and denied planning his departure as armed opposition fighters closed in on Damascus earlier this month.
A statement said to be written by al-Assad and released on the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel on Monday presented an account of how and why the former president fled Syria.
“First, my departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles, as some have claimed,” the statement said.
“On the contrary, I remained in Damascus, carrying out my duties until the early hours of Sunday, December 8, 2024.”
The statement added that as rebel fighters, who al-Assad described as “terrorist forces”, entered the capital, he moved to a Russian base on the coastal city of Latakia to “oversee combat operations”.
But according to the statement, the base came under drone attacks from armed opposition fighters.
“With no viable means of leaving the base, Moscow requested that the base’s command arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday 8 December,” it read.
“This took place a day after the fall of Damascus, following the collapse of the final military positions and the resulting paralysis of all remaining state institutions.”
The statement has not been independently verified. Al-Assad has not made any media appearances since he was granted asylum with his family by Russia.
… more content here …
