Cash, secrets and deal with Israel exposed: Assad’s midnight escape as regime collapses
A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pictured with its frame broken, on outskirts of central city of Hama, Syria, Dec. 7, 2024. (AFP Photo)
As opposition forces advanced on Damascus in December 2024, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad orchestrated a covert operation to transfer cash, sensitive documents and close aides out of Syria.
A Reuters investigation reveals that over 48 hours, a private jet made four secretive flights to the United Arab Emirates, carrying black bags filled with money, encrypted hard drives, and members of Assad’s inner circle—just before the regime’s collapse.
The secret evacuation
On Dec. 6, as opposition fighters neared the capital, a 13-seat Embraer Legacy 600 jet (tail number C5-SKY), registered in Gambia, landed at Damascus International Airport under heavy military guard.
According to 14 Syrian sources interviewed by Reuters—including airport staff, former intelligence officials, and individuals with ties to Assad’s business operations—the operation was coordinated by Assad’s top economic adviser, Yasar Ibrahim. Members of the elite Republican Guard and Air Force Intelligence secured the airport’s VIP Hall of Ceremonies, blocking access and ensuring no official records of the flights were kept.
During the four flights conducted between December 6 and 8, the aircraft transported:
- Assad’s relatives and Presidential Palace personnel
- At least $500,000 in unmarked black bags on each flight
- Paintings, small sculptures, and valuables
- Hard drives, laptops, and confidential documents related to Assad’s financial network
Witnesses described a tightly controlled scene, with dark-windowed vehicles meeting each flight. At least once, UAE embassy vehicles were seen at the airport, indicating possible awareness or involvement by Emirati authorities.
Assad’s final escape and the role of Israel
While the escape operation itself was meticulously planned, further revelations have surfaced indicating that, as Assad fled, he may have struck a deal with Israel to ensure safe passage.
According to reports, including a significant exposé by Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, Assad allegedly provided Israel with a list of vital military sites, including weapon depots, missile centers, and fighter jets, in exchange for guarantees regarding his safe exit.
In return for this information, Israel is said to have refrained from targeting Assad’s aircraft during its evacuation flight. This revelation adds a new layer of intrigue to Assad’s final days in power, with questions arising over how Israel obtained intelligence on key military sites that even Syria’s own opposition forces were unaware of.
The timing of Israel’s strikes, which focused on the regime’s most sensitive military locations, has sparked widespread speculation about the nature of the deal between Assad and Israel.
Assad’s escape wasn’t just about fleeing his collapsing regime but possibly securing his wealth and legacy, all while making strategic concessions that would allow his safe exit.
A financial empire in motion
Later flights focused on removing digital and paper records detailing what insiders called “The Group”—a vast corporate network that Assad used to control significant portions of the Syrian economy, including banking, real estate, telecommunications, and energy.
According to Reuters, the documents and data included:
- Corporate ownership structures
- Minutes of internal meetings
- Financial transfer records and offshore accounts
- Real estate assets and partnership agreements
A key figure on the final flight was Ahmed Khalil Khalil, a sanctioned businessman and close associate of Assad. He reportedly arrived at the Russian-operated Hmeimim air base in a UAE-armored vehicle and was carrying $500,000 in cash, withdrawn two days earlier from an account at Syria International Islamic Bank.
The account, according to sources, belonged to Al-Burj Investments, a company half-owned by Yasar Ibrahim.
Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters confirmed that the Embraer jet was at Hmeimim early on Dec. 8. Assad is believed to have departed for Russia from the same base on that day.
Involvement beyond Syria?
All four flights landed at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, known for receiving dignitaries and offering strict privacy. Flight tracking data confirmed that the Embraer made four round trips between Syria and the UAE in under two days.
No passenger manifests were obtained, but witnesses said vehicles regularly approached the aircraft and left shortly before takeoff. One source claimed UAE officials were present during at least one flight.
The aircraft was leased from a Dubai-based aviation company, Flying Airline FZCO, operated by Lebanese businessman Mohamad Wehbe. In social media posts from 2024, Wehbe showcased the aircraft, which is registered in Gambia.
Wehbe denied involvement in the Syria flights, telling Reuters he only rents the jet occasionally through a broker, whose name he did not disclose.
Syria’s new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has vowed to track and recover public assets taken abroad before Assad’s departure. A senior official confirmed to Reuters that funds were smuggled out in the regime’s final days but said investigations are ongoing.
The Embraer Legacy 600 was the only private aircraft operating in and out of Syria during those 72 critical hours. While Assad now lives in Russia under political asylum, the financial machinery that supported his rule continues to draw scrutiny.
