Assad claims he never planned to leave Syria in first statement released since his flight to Russia

Syria’s former leader Bashar al-Assad has released his first comments since he fled the country for Russia on December 8, 2024. Assad claimed that he had no plans to leave Syria, but was evacuated as he was visiting a Russian military base in Syria when it became clear that rebel forces were taking control of the capital. Assad’s written statement released on December 16 came as Russian forces were seen removing equipment from military bases.