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Conflict in Syria

Fall of Damascus and hopes for free Syria: Assad makes first statement after stepping down

Bashar Assad insists that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of December 8 and did not leave the country until late on that day

Bashar Assad SANA FILE via AP

Bashar Assad

© SANA FILE via AP

CAIRO, December 16. /TASS/. Former Syrian President Bashar Assad has said that he remained in Damascus until the early morning of December 8 and did not leave the country until the evening of that day, according to a statement his press service released on Telegram.

According to Assad, he learned of the fall of Damascus after arriving at the Russian military base in Hmeimim.

TASS has collected the key remarks made by the ex-Syrian president.

On leaving Syria

Assad insists that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of December 8 and did not leave the country until late on that day.

"As terrorist forces infiltrated Damascus, I moved to Latakia in coordination with our Russian allies to oversee combat operations," he noted, adding that he had left for Russia on the evening of December 8.

"At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party," Assad pointed out. In his words, "the only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught." However, "when the state falls into the hands of terrorism <...>, any position becomes void of purpose."

Assad also stated that he had learned of the fall of Damascus after arriving at the Russian military base in Hmeimim. While he was staying at the base, "the field situation in the area continued to deteriorate, the Russian military base itself came under intensified attack by drone strikes," the former Syrian president added. This was when "Moscow requested that the base's command arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia."

On hopes

Assad expressed hope that "Syria will once again be free and independent." He also pointed out that he would provide a detailed account of the recent events in Syria "when the opportunity allows.".

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Syrian conflict

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