A week after fleeing the country following the overthrow of his regime, the former Syrian president, Bashar al-Assadhas launched his first official statement since Moscow. In the statement released through social networks, he denied having betrayed the Syrian people and its army by leaving the country on December 8.
Assad assures in the document that his escape was not “planned” and that at no time did he consider resigning, seeking refuge or asylum “in the face of the offensive by the rebels led by the jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS). A president “does not can be a person who renounces the people to which he belongs or who betrays him and his Army“said the former president, who added that “when the State falls into the hands of terrorists, any position loses meaning.”
In the statement he also explained that “he remained in Damascus, carrying out his duties, until early December 8“, when “terrorist forces infiltrated” the capital, forcing its transfer to Latakia. “As the situation on the ground in the area continued to deteriorate, the Russian military base came under intensified attack by drones. With no viable means to abandon the base, Moscow requested that the command coordinate an immediate evacuation on the afternoon of December 8,” the president detailed.
“This took place one day after the fall of Damascus and after the collapse of the last military positions and the resulting paralysis of all state institutions,” said Al Assad, who insisted that “at no time” did he consider resigning. and that “the only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist offensive.” “My deep sense of belonging to the country and the Syrian people gives me hope that Syria will once again be a free and independent country“, he stated.
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