Conflicts

On December 16, Bashar al-Assad spoke out for the first time on Telegram since his exfiltration from the country nearly ten days ago. 

The former Syrian leader is keen to set the record straight. “My departure from Syria wasn't planned and didn't take place during the final hours of the fighting,” he asserts. “At no time did I consider resigning or seeking refuge, and no such proposal was made by any party. The only course of action was to continue fighting the terrorist onslaught.” It was certain events that forcibly pushed him towards the exit.

In Damascus until the end

According to Bashar al-Assad's statements, he remained in Damascus and carried out his duties “until the early hours of Sunday December 8”, before fleeing with his family. The rebels were gradually overthrowing the Assad regime. 

The former dictator goes on to describe his escape, explaining that he was at the Russian base in Hmeimim “to supervise military operations” before it was attacked by drones. “Moscow asked the base command to organize an immediate evacuation to Russia on Sunday evening,” he continued. 

Bashar al-Assad is now convinced that Syria has fallen into the “hands of terrorism”. And he hopes it will soon “regain its freedom and independence”. 

(MH with Manon Pierre - Source: TF1 info - Illustration: Unsplash)