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In his first public statement since being ousted from office, former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad declared on Monday that Syria has fallen into the grip of terrorism, pointing to a poignant acknowledgment of the country’s tumultuous descent into conflict and instability.
Assad disclosed that his departure from Syria wasn’t part of a prearranged plan, but was instead driven by an urgent plea from Moscow, which insisted on evacuating him from a military base that was under direct attack, revealing the immediate danger he faced.
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“My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles,” said a statement on the ousted presidency’s Telegram channel, adding “Moscow requested… an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday December 8” after he moved to Latakia early that day.
The statement further emphasized that when a state succumbs to terrorism, and the power to make any significant progress is extinguished, every position within it becomes stripped of its true purpose and meaning.
“When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, any position becomes void of purpose,” he added.
