In the first statements attributed to Bashar al-Assad since his departure from Syria, he vehemently defended his rule against claims of a planned exit, stating, 'First, my departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles, as some have claimed.' This assertion underscores his argument that the narrative surrounding his exit is steeped in misinformation, a clear attempt to reassert authority even while in exile.
Al-Assad labeled the opposition forces as 'terrorist forces' as they advanced on Damascus, illustrating his continued framing of the conflict in starkly black-and-white terms. He noted, 'As rebel fighters entered the capital, I moved to a Russian base in Latakia to oversee combat operations,' providing a glimpse into his strategy and the chaos that preceded his departure, which he claims was not voluntary.
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