Boss98.9 FM
In the first public remarks attributed to Bashar al-Assad since he left Syria, the deposed Syrian president has defended his rule and denied planning his departure as armed opposition fighters closed in on Damascus earlier this month.
A statement said to be written by al-Assad, released via the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel on Monday, detailed his account of events leading up to his flight from the country.
The statement rejected claims that his departure was premeditated or occurred at the height of the battles for the Syrian capital aa Al-Assad insisted that he remained in Damascus, performing his duties until the early hours of Sunday, December 8, 2024.
According to the statement, as rebel fighters advanced into Damascus, Bashar al-Assad relocated to a Russian military base in Latakia to oversee combat operations, but the base came under drone attacks from opposition forces, leaving him stranded until Moscow arranged an emergency evacuation to Russia on December 8, 2024.
The authenticity of the statement has not been independently verified, and al-Assad has not appeared in the media since being granted asylum in Russia with his family
