Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad on Monday released his first statement following the fall of his regime over a week ago. Speaking from Russia, where he sought asylum, Assad denied that his departure from Syria was premeditated and labeled the country’s new leaders as “terrorists.” His statement comes amid widespread reports of chaos in Damascus after rebel forces took control of the capital.
Assad, whose family ruled Syria for nearly five decades, fled the country on December 8 when Islamist rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) advanced into Damascus. The offensive forced Syria’s military to abandon their tanks, weapons, and strategic positions, resulting in a rapid collapse of Assad’s defenses. The former president, now 59, claimed that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of December 8, continuing to fulfill his duties despite the escalating violence.
In his statement, shared via the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel, Assad firmly denied any prior plan to leave Syria. “My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles,” he said. He further clarified, “At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual party.”
Assad recounted the series of events that led to his eventual departure, describing how rebel forces infiltrated Damascus, forcing him to relocate to Latakia. The coastal city is home to a Russian naval base and has been a strategic point for Assad’s allies throughout the Syrian civil war. Assad credited his “Russian allies” with facilitating his movement and overseeing combat operations as Damascus fell into chaos.
Once at the Russian air base in Hmeimim, Assad said it became evident that the Syrian military had completely withdrawn, leaving no army positions intact. “It became clear that our forces had completely withdrawn from all battle lines and that the last army positions had fallen,” he explained. Following this collapse, Russia, under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, organized Assad’s evacuation to Moscow on the evening of December 8.
