The ousted leader of the regime in Syria, Bashar al-Assad, in his first statement after fleeing the country, claimed that he had taken refuge in a Russian base during the conflict, from where he was taken on instructions from Moscow.
Assad spoke about his escape from the country in a written statement on the official social media accounts of the deposed Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.
Stating that he had taken time to make the statement for “security reasons”, Assad claimed that his flight from Syria was not planned and that he had continued his duties, remaining in Damascus until the morning of December 8.
Assad claimed that when the opposition reached Damascus, he went to Latakia to manage the clashes in coordination with Russia, and when he arrived at the Hmeimim air base, it became clear that the regime forces had lost their military position.
Claiming that the Russian military base where he had taken refuge had also been attacked by drones, Assad claimed that on the evening of December 8, Moscow had ordered the command of the Khmeimim air base to organize an urgent “evacuation” for him to Russia.
Assad also claimed that he had never considered withdrawing or seeking asylum.


