Breaking silence, Assad denies abandoning Syria amid flight from rebels

Ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad says he had no plans to leave the country after the fall of Damascus a week ago but the Russian military evacuated him after their base in western Syria came under attack.

The comments, posted on a Telegram channel maintained by the Syrian presidency, are the first ostensible public remarks from Assad since he was overthrown by insurgent groups.

Assad says in the statement that he left Damascus on the morning of December 8, hours after insurgents stormed the capital. He says he left in coordination with Russian allies to the Hmeimim air base in the coastal province of Latakia, where he wanted to keep fighting.

Assad says that after the Russian base came under attack by drones that night, the Russians decided to move him to Moscow.

“I did not leave the country as part of a plan as it was reported earlier,” Assad says.

“At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge nor was such proposal made by any individual or party,” Assad adds in an English version of his statement. “The only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught.”

Reports of Assad’s flight from Damascus began to emerge before dawn on December 8 as rebels rolled into the capital largely unopposed. It was not until the next day that Moscow confirmed his arrival in Russia. Before then, various rumors over his fate had swirled, including claims of a fatal plane crash.

In the post, Assad boasts of remaining in Syria throughout the decade-long civil war and adds that he never “abandoned the resistance in Palestine and Lebanon.”

“When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, any position becomes void of purpose,” the statement adds.

Syrian Presidency’s Facebook and Telegram channels publish statement purported to be from Bashar al-Assad, dated Dec. 16.

Assad says that “at no time during the events that have taken place in Syria” has he ever considered resigning or fleeing the country. pic.twitter.com/6kreggNd2P

— Ismaeel Naar (@ismaeelrn) December 16, 2024