Bashar al-Assad rejects the plan to leave Syria

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Deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied that his departure from the country was pre-arranged, saying he stayed until he was trapped in a military base that was under attack.

In his first statement since the rebel offensive began nearly three weeks ago, Assad said he stayed in Damascus until Sunday, December 8, when he moved to a Russian base in Hmeimim on the Mediterranean coast.

The former leader said that when drone attacks were launched against the base and when leaving by land was no longer possible, Moscow submitted a request to the base’s command to relocate it to Russia immediately.

He says: “My departure was neither planned nor happened in the last hours of the war. “At no time during these events did I think of going down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any person or party.”

The statement was published by the official channel of the former Syrian president’s office and Facebook page, which it said was the only “possible option” after attempts to publish it on Arab and international media were unsuccessful. do not succeed. It was also carried by the Russian national news wire Tass.

Assad was overthrown on December 8 are rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an offshoot of the former al-Qaeda group that swept through Syria with a lightning strike to end the Assad family’s half-century rule, known for its repression cruel and corrupt.

As the rebels advanced towards the capital on December 7, Syrians around the world tuned into state television after widespread rumors that Assad would speak.

Instead, the military commander issued a brief statement, warning Syrians not to believe what he said was a media campaign to sow conflict.

After Assad failed to appear that night, thousands of his supporters left Damascus, believing their leader had abandoned them, according to people who left and images shared on social media.

Assad said that when he arrived at the base the next day, “it became clear that our forces have completely abandoned all fighting methods and that the last military positions have fallen”.

Loyalist anger with Assad has been growing ever since, with no public statement. Assad’s resignation and departure from Russia was announced by Moscow’s foreign ministry on Sunday. It said Russia was “not a party to those negotiations”.

Assad said the delay in the release of his statement was due to “the circumstances that existed at the time, including the complete blackout of communication for security reasons”. He promised a more detailed account of events “when the opportunity permits”.

“I have not sought positions for personal gain but I have always considered myself a custodian of the national project,” he said, adding that his departure “does not diminish my deep sense of belonging to Syria and its people.” .