Ousted Syrian dictator Assad breaks silence: Claims he wanted to keep fighting and shares his version of Russian evacuation in fiery online statement

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has released his first public statement since being overthrown by rebel groups and fleeing to Russia earlier this month.

Speaking from Moscow, where he has taken refuge, Assad asserted that at no point during the Syrian conflict did he intend to step down or flee. He claimed to have remained in Damascus until the early hours of December 8, 2024, when Islamist rebels from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other militias captured the capital. Assad stated he left for Russia’s Hmeimim airbase near Latakia under orders from Moscow following a drone attack.

In a message shared via the Syrian Presidential Telegram channel, Assad sought to counter what he called "misinformation" about his departure. "My evacuation was neither planned nor an act of surrender. I stayed in Damascus fulfilling my duties until the final moments," he said. Assad emphasized his commitment to continuing the fight against "terrorist forces" and framed his departure as a necessity for his safety, orchestrated by Russian authorities.

The former president portrayed himself as a steadfast leader who remained with his people during the conflict, even as his regime, bolstered by Russian, Iranian, and Hezbollah forces, faced allegations of atrocities, including chemical attacks. Assad denied seeking personal gain from his position, instead describing himself as a "custodian of a national project."

Flight-tracking data revealed that Assad fled Syria on December 8 using a private jet that temporarily disabled its transponder to avoid detection. He landed at the Russian-controlled Hmeimim airbase before boarding a military plane to Moscow.

Meanwhile, in Syria, HTS has begun establishing a transitional government. Last week, Mohammad al-Bashir, leader of the group's "Salvation Government" in Idlib, was named interim prime minister until March 2025. However, stability in Syria remains elusive, as Turkish-backed militants and Kurdish forces clash in the north, and ISIS and other factions exploit the ongoing chaos.

International reactions have been mixed. Russia, which orchestrated Assad's evacuation, has maintained contact with HTS regarding its military bases in Syria but has not granted Assad an audience with President Vladimir Putin. Russian officials have also dismissed calls to hand Assad over to the International Criminal Court, citing their non-membership in the ICC treaty.

The fall of Assad marks a significant turning point in the Syrian civil war, with rebel groups now facing the challenges of governance while contending with lingering threats from ISIS, foreign interventions, and internal divisions.