Ousted Syrian Leader Assad Speaks Out After Damascus Falls

Former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has issued his first public statement since his regime was toppled earlier this month. Shared via the Syrian presidency's Telegram channel, Assad defended his leadership and claimed he never intended to leave Syria, asserting that his departure occurred only after rebel forces overtook Damascus.

According to Assad, he remained in the Syrian capital performing his duties until December 8, the day after the city fell to opposition forces. He said that his evacuation to Russia was coordinated with Moscow after rebel fighters, described by him as "terrorist forces," advanced into Damascus and later targeted a Russian airbase in Latakia, where he had sought refuge to oversee operations. Assad claimed the attack on the base left no other option but an emergency evacuation arranged by Russian forces.

The fall of Damascus marked the collapse of Assad's 24-year rule, which began after the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000. His statement emphasized that he never considered resigning or seeking asylum before his forced departure, reiterating his commitment to fight against what he referred to as a "terrorist onslaught." Assad described himself as a "custodian of a national project" who believed in the Syrian people's ability to protect the state and its institutions. However, he offered no indication of plans to return to Syria.

Assad's ousting came after a rapid offensive by opposition groups, spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which began in November. Rebel forces captured multiple cities with little resistance, culminating in their arrival in Damascus on December 8. This ended more than five decades of the Assad family's authoritarian rule and marked a turning point in Syria's devastating...