Bashar al-Assad made his first statement after fleeing Syria

The pages of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on social networks published his first statement after fleeing Damascus. In it, the retired politician claims that he had no intention of leaving Syria.

“I did not leave my homeland in a planned way, as they are trying to show. And I did not leave it in the last hours of the battles. I remained in Damascus, fulfilling my duties until the morning of December 8,” he said.

According to him, he left the capital after the first opposition forces entered the city. Assad intended to move to Latakia to continue the fight, however, upon arriving at the Khmeimim base, he learned about the fall of Damascus.

“In the context of the collapse of the armed forces and the paralysis of state institutions, when terrorists seized power in Syria, it was pointless to remain in the country,” Assad said, adding that he did not abandon either the people or the army.