Syria is now in the hands of terrorism – Assad

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made his first public statement since his ouster, declaring that Syria has fallen “into the hands of terrorism.”

In a statement shared on Monday, Decemer 16, on the ousted presidency’s Telegram channel, Assad revealed details about his departure from Syria, emphasizing that it was not premeditated.

“My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles,” he said. According to the statement, Moscow intervened and requested his immediate evacuation.

“Moscow requested… an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, December 8,” Assad said, explaining that the request came after he had relocated to Latakia earlier that day amid escalating threats.

Reflecting on the current state of Syria, Assad added, “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.”

The statement marks Assad’s first acknowledgment of the collapse of his presidency and sheds light on the role Moscow played in his evacuation during the final stages of his tenure.