Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued his first public remarks since being ousted from power, denying rumors that he had planned to flee the country amid the collapse of his regime.
In a statement posted on the Syrian Presidency’s Telegram account allegedly from Assad, he defended his actions during the final days of his presidency, claiming he left Syria under orders from Moscow after Damascus fell.
The statement describes Assad’s movements on December 8, the day he was reported to have left Syria. It asserted that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of that Sunday, before moving to a Russian airbase some 100 kilometers north of the capital.
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The statement marks Assad’s first direct communication with the public since his government was overthrown following years of civil war and foreign intervention.
The departure was purportedly prompted by the infiltration of “terrorist forces” into the city, and insists that it was Moscow that requested Assad’s evacuation after the base came under drone attack by opposition fighters.
“The situation was dire, but I had no intention of fleeing my country,” the statement read, adding that he was overseeing military operations from the airbase until it too came under attack.
The statement reaffirmed Assad’s deep connection to Syria, stating he continues to feel a “profound sense of belonging” to the nation, whilst reiterating that Assad’s decisions were always made in the “best interests of the Syrian people”.
Assad’s statement has not been independently verified.
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