Bashar al-Assad claims Russians forced his evacuation from Syria

Ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad says he had planned to keep fighting but the Russians evacuated him, in his first public statement since fleeing to Moscow over a week ago.

Assad clarified that his departure from Syria was unplanned and did not occur during the “final hours of the battles.” He explained that he had traveled to Latakia, a Russian military base in Syria, to “oversee combat operations” when Moscow arranged for his evacuation to Russia.

“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 stated, emphasizing his intention to remain involved in Syria’s ongoing crisis.

Has Assad Given Up on Syria?

Assad asserted that he remains the “same person” who, since the onset of Syria’s civil war, “refused to barter the salvation of his nation for personal gain or to compromise his people in exchange for numerous offers and enticements.”

“The only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught,” he said.

One week ago the Kremlin announced that Russia had granted political asylum to Assad in a decision made personally by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to provide details about Assad’s location and stated that President Putin had no plans to meet with him.

Is Assad Still Supported By Russia?

Assad’s statement on Monday appeared to contradict the announcement made by the Russian foreign ministry after the Kremlin had granted asylum to the former Syrian leader. The ministry said that Assad had “decided to resign the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power.”

Russian news agencies quoted a Kremlin source as saying that Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and been granted asylum “out of humanitarian considerations.”

The decision to grant Assad asylum underscores Russia’s ongoing involvement in Syrian affairs and highlights its vested interest in ensuring the country’s future stability.

The development follows the overthrow of Assad’s government by Syrian rebels just over one week ago, ending nearly 14 years of civil war. The conflict has left Syria divided among various armed groups, raising concerns about a potential security vacuum in the region.

Russia, a longtime ally of Assad’s regime, maintains two key military bases in Syria, including its sole Mediterranean naval port in Tartus. Throughout the Syrian civil war, Moscow has provided crucial military and political support to Assad.

Assad has not made a public appearance since meeting with Iran’s foreign minister in Damascus a week ago. During that meeting, Assad vowed to “crush” the rebel forces led by Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, a former al-Qaeda commander and leader of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Since then, the rebels have seized control of the capital and the majority of Assad’s former territory, marking a dramatic shift in Syria’s power dynamics.

Has Regime Change in Syria Affected Americans in the Region?

The U.S. Embassy in Damascus on Monday has urged American citizens to leave Syria, citing ongoing armed conflict and widespread “terrorism throughout the country” that make the security situation volatile and unpredictable.

Although the embassy has been closed since 2012, it issued a statement on X warning U.S. citizens unable to leave to prepare “contingency plans for emergency situations.” No further details were provided.

The statement also emphasized that the U.S. government cannot offer routine or emergency consular services in Syria. Citizens needing “emergency assistance to depart” were advised to contact the U.S. Embassy in the country they intend to enter.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press