LThe former president claims to have remained in Damascus until the morning of December 8, 2024, despite the escalation of violence. Faced with the rapid deterioration of the security situation in the capital, he was reportedly transferred to Latakia in coordination with Russian forces to continue to supervise military operations.
However, upon his arrival at the Hmeimim base, he noted the total collapse of the defense lines and the fall of the last military positions of the Syrian army. The base itself, a drone target, was under intense pressure, forcing Russian authorities to organize its immediate evacuation to Moscow.
In this statement, Bashar al-Assad insists that his departure never meant an abandonment of his responsibilities or a desire to seek asylum. He firmly rejects any allegation of resignation or renunciation.
“The only choice was to continue fighting in the face of the terrorist offensive”, he asserts, while specifying that his decision aimed to preserve the institutions of the state, although they were quickly paralyzed after the fall of Damascus.
The former president emphasizes that he has not given up resistance, whether in Syria or on other fronts of struggle, notably in Lebanon and Palestine. According to him, with the takeover of the state by enemy forces, the question of power becomes secondary.
“A position is only valuable if it serves the people”, he affirms, calling on his supporters not to lose sight of the fight against what he describes as “international terrorism”.
