Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has released a statement on Telegram, portraying himself as a dedicated “custodian” of his nation who remained fighting against the terrorist onslaught before being forced to flee to Russia. The 14-year-old civil war ended with Assad being ousted on December 8 following a major offensive led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Assad described the situation, saying he was forced to leave Damascus and move to Lattakia in coordination with Russian allies to oversee combat operations at the Hmeimim Air Base. He claimed that despite rebel forces targeting the base with drone strikes, he remained on the front lines, “just meters from terrorists” in intense battlefields.
Assad attempted to validate his oppressive regime’s actions, stating he “refused to barter the salvation of his nation for personal gain” and prioritized the people’s interests. He claimed his leadership was driven by a national project supported by the Syrian people’s faith, not personal ambition.
The statement comes after weeks of reports on human rights abuses, torture, and mass arbitrary detentions under Assad’s rule. Despite this, he maintained that his actions were for the benefit of Syria’s people, upholding their choices until the end.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/assad-paints-himself-custodian-syria-picture-unfolds-collapse-damascus