Assad Reportedly Denies Intent to Flee Syria Amid Fall of Damascus.
Syria’s former president, Bashar al-Assad, has purportedly released a statement denying any intention of leaving the country, even as Damascus fell to rebel forces eight days ago. This statement, reportedly shared on the Telegram channel affiliated with the Syrian presidency, marks his first public communication since the collapse of his government. However, questions remain about the channel’s current control and whether Assad himself authored the statement.
The statement recounts the sequence of events leading up to Assad’s departure. He claims that as Damascus was overrun by rebels, he moved to a Russian military base in Latakia province to oversee combat operations. However, he observed that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, leaving the situation increasingly dire.
According to the statement, the Russian-controlled Hmeimim Airbase, where he sought refuge, also faced heavy drone attacks. Subsequently, Russian forces decided to airlift him to Moscow for his safety.
Assad firmly denied any intention to resign or seek asylum. He stated, “At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party.” He added that when the state succumbs to terrorism and meaningful leadership becomes impossible, holding a position of power loses its purpose.
Assad’s departure to Russia coincided with the rapid fall of Syrian cities to rebel forces, led primarily by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Over an 11-day period, the rebels overran city after city, culminating in the capture of Damascus. The group, now spearheading efforts to form a transitional government in Syria, has long been a controversial actor in the country’s civil war.
HTS, currently Syria’s most powerful rebel faction, has its origins in Jabhat al-Nusra, an organization founded in 2011. The group initially pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda but severed ties in 2016, rebranding itself as HTS after merging with other militant factions. Despite these changes, many nations, including the United Nations, the United States, and the United Kingdom, continue to classify HTS as a terrorist organization.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known by his alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leads HTS. He has publicly pledged a commitment to tolerance toward various religious communities and groups. However, skepticism persists due to the group’s jihadist roots and its history of extreme violence.
As HTS and other rebel factions work to establish a transitional government, concerns remain over their ability to foster unity in a nation deeply divided by years of war. The legacy of extremist ideologies associated with HTS raises doubts about the group’s capacity to deliver on promises of inclusivity and tolerance.
Syria’s future remains uncertain as rebel factions attempt to consolidate power and governance. The fall of the Assad regime marks a significant turning point in the country’s prolonged civil war, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges, both in addressing the nation’s complex political landscape and in rebuilding a fractured society.
