Assad denies ‘planned’ evacuation claims in first public statement since exile

Syria‘s former regime leader, Bashar al-Assad, made his first public statement after his ouster since he left the country and went into exile in Russia.

The statement released on Monday claimed he was evacuated to Russia on Dec. 8 as the Hmeimim military base in Syria came allegedly under drone attacks.

This was Assad’s first public statement since his ouster following a rebel offensive more than a week ago. The statement, posted on the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel on Dec. 16, was dated from Moscow.

Allegedly unplanned evacuation request by Moscow

Assad claimed that his departure from Syria was unplanned and was prompted by an evacuation request from Russia.

He explained that Moscow requested the immediate evacuation of the Syrian president to Russia after the Hmeimim base, located in Latakia, came allegedly under attack. Assad had moved to Latakia earlier that day, on December 8, as opposition forces closed in on Damascus.

“My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles,” Assad said in his statement. “Moscow requested an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 8,” the statement continued.

First, my departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles, as some have claimed. On the contrary, I remained in Damascus, carrying out my duties until the early hours of Sunday Dec. 8 2024.

As terrorist forces infiltrated Damascus, I moved to Lattakia in coordination with our Russian allies to oversee combat operations. Upon arrival at the Hmeimim airbase that morning, it became clear that our forces had completely withdrawn from all battle lines and that the last army positions had fallen.

As the field situation in the area continued to deteriorate, the Russian military base itself came under intensified attack by drone strikes. 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 8th December.

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.

At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party. The only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught.

Bashar al-Assad

Loss of purpose, fall of Syria’s Assad regime

In his statement, Assad also suggested that the collapse of the state into the hands of “terrorism,” rendered any position of power meaningless. “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,” he added.

Assad’s statement comes after a significant shift in Syria’s political and military landscape. Opposition forces launched a surprise offensive that led to Assad’s ouster from power.