Bashar al-Assad stated he left Syria only after Damascus had completely fallen. According to him, the military had lost its final positions, and state institutions were nonfunctional. His exit, as per the claim, was not planned but was facilitated by Russia.
Russian Evacuation and Military Base Events
Assad revealed he was evacuated to Russia by Moscow's arrangement. He claims to have been at the Russian military base in Khmeimim near Latakia during the final stages of Syria's collapse. The base was reportedly targeted by a significant UAV attack at that time.
Commitment to Stay Until the End
In his alleged statement, Assad expressed that he never considered resigning or fleeing Syria during the conflict, asserting his intent to remain until the very end.
Reflection on Syria's Future
Assad promised to provide a detailed account of the events when circumstances allow and expressed hope for Syria to regain its freedom and independence.
Verification Pending
While the statement was disseminated through official Syrian channels and Russian state media, the authenticity of the words attributed to Assad has yet to be independently verified. There remains uncertainty whether the statement was directly written by Assad or someone on his behalf.
This development reflects ongoing questions about Assad's role and intentions during Syria's turbulent conflict.