Bashar al-Assad, the ousted President of Syria, has broken his silence following the dramatic collapse of his regime on December 8, 2024. In a written statement issued from Russia, Assad sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding his departure from Syria, refuting widespread claims that he fled Damascus in a last-minute escape. Instead, he portrayed his relocation as a calculated move coordinated with Russia to oversee the crumbling military operations and manage the chaos as terrorist factions took control of the capital.
Assad emphasized that his departure from Damascus was neither hasty nor planned as part of a retreat strategy. According to his account, he remained in the city performing his presidential duties until the early hours of December 8, when it became evident that his forces could no longer hold their positions against a relentless offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied factions. He explained that he then moved to Lattakia to coordinate efforts with Russian allies, only to discover upon reaching the Hmeimim airbase that Syrian forces had withdrawn entirely and that the last government-held positions had fallen to advancing opposition forces.
In his statement, Assad lamented the devastating state of Syria, which he described as “falling into the hands of terrorism,” and expressed profound regret over the circumstances that led to the collapse of his regime. He painted himself as a leader committed to a national project, one rooted in a vision for Syria’s stability and sovereignty, and insisted that his departure was not motivated by personal gain or fear. “I have never sought positions for personal benefit but have always viewed myself as a custodian of a national vision supported by the faith of the Syrian people,” Assad said, framing his leadership as a service to the country rather than a pursuit of power.
Assad’s regime, which he inherited in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, had long been considered unshakeable despite years of civil war. However, the swift offensive by HTS and its allies dismantled the last remnants of government control in Damascus, leaving the country in turmoil. HTS, formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front and once affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has since solidified its dominance over significant parts of Syria, marking a new chapter in the nation's ongoing conflict.
Assad also expressed solidarity with the Syrian people, reaffirming his belief in their resilience and their ability to overcome the current crisis. He argued that holding onto leadership positions becomes meaningless when the state falls into disarray and governance becomes impossible. "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, rendering its occupation meaningless," Assad declared.
Despite his removal from power, Assad claimed that his bond with Syria and its people remains unbroken. He described this connection as a source of hope and optimism for the future, expressing his belief that Syria will one day reclaim its freedom and independence from foreign interference and extremist domination. “It is a belonging filled with hope that Syria will once again be free and independent,” he said, portraying himself as a patriot whose fate remains tied to that of his homeland.
The fall of Assad’s regime, once a symbol of authoritarian stability in the region, underscores the volatile and unpredictable nature of the Syrian conflict. HTS's rise to power has introduced new uncertainties into the already fractured landscape, as various factions vie for control and external powers assess their next moves. Assad’s statement, while reflective of his own perspective, sheds light on the broader challenges facing Syria—a country that remains deeply divided, scarred by years of war, and vulnerable to ongoing strife and external influence. His words may serve as a rallying cry for some loyalists but are unlikely to sway the trajectory of a nation whose future now lies in the hands of an increasingly fragmented and unstable coalition of forces.
