DLast Sunday, Assad reportedly experienced sudden symptoms, including a feeling of choking and a persistent cough, requiring emergency medical intervention. Analyzes would have confirmed the presence of a toxic substance in his body.
Treated on site, his state of health stabilized the next day. Neither Russian nor Syrian authorities have issued an official statement on the matter.
A report on the incident was reportedly submitted to Nikolai Patrushev, a senior Russian official, who ordered an investigation to elucidate the circumstances of the alleged poisoning.
This case comes after the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, when the Syrian opposition took control of Damascus, ending more than 13 years of power. The Kremlin has since granted political asylum to Assad and his family, but no official meeting with Vladimir Putin is planned, according to Russian authorities.
