Syria: Bashar al-Assad speaks for the first time since his fall

ADVERTISEMENT

After the fall of his regime, Bashar al-Assad found refuge in an allied country, Russia. Although he had not spoken since his departure, he published a statement this Monday on the Telegram account of the former Syrian presidency.

In this press release, he refutes the story of his flight to Russia since his fall.

“My departure from Syria was not planned, nor did it take place during the final hours of the battle, contrary to some allegations. […] On the contrary, I remained in Damascus, fulfilling my duty until dawn on Sunday, December 8,” he explains.

He then claims to have left Damascus for Latakia and the Russian military base of Hmeimim.

“While the base was under intense drone fire, with no possible way to leave it, Moscow asked the commanders there to organize an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, December 8.”he continues, affirming, moreover, that Syria has now fallen “in the hands of terrorism”.

At first cautious, foreign powers now multiply contacts with the new power in Damascus.

Rebels, members of an Islamist organization, the HTC, which is nevertheless classified “terrorist” by several countries and under European sanctions. In 2017, the United States announced that there was a price of $10 million on the head of its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Joulani.

A senior EU representative is expected in the Syrian capital to meet these new leaders.

On Sunday, the Quai d’Orsay confirmed the sending of French diplomats to Syria on Tuesday. The UN special envoy to Syria has already arrived in Damascus.

The head of English diplomacy David Lammy confirmed that London had already established contact with the new masters of Syria. Just like the United States, which specifies that it also wants to locate Austin Tice, an American journalist kidnapped in Syria in 2012.

As for Turkey, which supported the rebels, it already reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, after more than 10 years of closure.