Bashar al-Assad, the ousted leader of Syria, stated that he was evacuated to Russia from the Hmeimim base in Syria on the evening of December 8, as the base was targeted by drone attacks. He had departed from Damascus the same morning, with opposition fighters advancing towards the capital.
This remark was included in a message published on the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel, dated December 16 from Moscow, marking Mr. Assad’s first public comment following his ousting by a rebel offensive over a week ago.
Mr. Assad refuted claims that he fled Syria during the last moments of the confrontations.
He maintained that he remained in Damascus fulfilling his responsibilities until the early hours of December 8, before relocating to Lattakia in collaboration with Russia, as rebel forces advanced into Damascus.
Mr. Assad affirmed that he never considered resigning or seeking asylum, insisting that his only option was to persist in fighting against what he described as “the terrorist onslaught.”
Countries enhance outreach to Syria’s new leaders
The announcement from Mr. Assad comes amid heightened global efforts to establish connections with Syria’s interim rulers.
The rapid offensive that led to the capture of Damascus sparked celebrations nationwide and beyond.
However, the unexpected fall of the city left many governments taken aback, with many now scrambling to formulate new policies.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group spearheading the offensive, is linked to Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch and remains classified as a terrorist organization by numerous Western nations.
Diplomats, including UN envoy Geir Pedersen, who was present in Syria, have called for an inclusive new administration focused on nation-building and justice.
UN envoy Geir Pedersen meets with HTS leader Mohammed al-Jolani (Credit: Syrian Transitional Government)
Mr. Pedersen engaged with HTS leader Mohammed al-Jolani, advocating for “justice and accountability for crimes.”
“We must ensure that this is handled through a credible justice system, avoiding any form of revenge,” he remarked.
A Qatari delegation has also arrived in Syria to confer with transitional government officials and express “full commitment to supporting the Syrian people.”
Qatar’s embassy is set to resume functions, 13 years after its closure during the onset of an anti-government uprising that ignited years of civil conflict.
In contrast to other Arab nations, Qatar never re-established relations with Assad’s regime.
Assistance and diplomacy
Both the United Kingdom and the United States confirmed they are in discussions with HTS, despite officially designating the group as a terrorist entity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that his nation is coordinating the provision of aid, including wheat, flour, and oil, to Syria.
Children in Syria are returning to school for the first time since Assad’s departure.
Rebels took control of Damascus after an 11-day offensive, more than a decade into the civil war that began with Mr. Assad’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011.
The conflict has resulted in over 500,000 fatalities and displaced more than half of Syria’s population.
‘Significant destruction’
A cautious sense of calm is returning to many cities, with children in Syria returning to school for the first time since Mr. Assad’s ouster.
The interim governor of Syria acknowledged that significant challenges remain.
UN envoy Mr. Pedersen called for “increased, immediate” aid during his visit to Syria.
While HTS has attempted to moderate its rhetoric in recent years, its assumption of power has raised concerns regarding the safety of religious and ethnic minorities.
People attend the first Sunday mass in Aleppo since the rebel forces removed the Assad regime
Syrian Christians, attending their first Sunday church service since Mr. Assad’s fall, expressed reassurance thus far.
“Thank God, our situation is good,” said Ibtissam al-Khouli outside a church in Damascus.
“Everyone feels at ease; there’s no fear,” she shared with reporters.
The interim government has pledged to uphold the rights of all Syrians and the rule of law.
Russian evacuation
Mr. Assad was supported by key allies, notably Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, Iran, and Russia, whose foreign ministry indicated that it had evacuated some diplomatic personnel from Syria.
They departed “on a special flight from the Russian Air Force out of the Hmeimim airbase,” according to the ministry.
The rebel offensive commenced on November 27, coinciding with a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, which had severely weakened the militant organization.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that his country has “no interest in confronting Syria,” despite executing hundreds of airstrikes over the past week.
These airstrikes continued this morning, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring reported attacks on military facilities in the coastal region of Tartus.
Read more about the conflict in the Middle East
The UK-based observatory, which relies on a network of insiders within Syria, stated that these were “the most intense strikes” in the vicinity in over a decade.
Israel has also deployed troops into a UN-monitored buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, a move denounced by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which the UN stated violated a 1974 armistice.
Additionally, Israel’s government has recently approved a plan to double the population in the Golan Heights, which it annexed.
