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Assad says he wanted to keep fighting but Russians evacuated him

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Former Syrian Prez details departure from Damascus

Damascus, Dec 16: Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad says he had no plans to leave the country after the fall of Damascus a week ago but the Russian military evacuated him after their base in western Syria came under attack.
The comments are the first by Assad since he was overthrown by insurgent groups.
Assad said in a statement on his Facebook page that he left Damascus on the morning of Dec 8, hours after insurgents stormed the capital. He said he left in coordination with Russian allies to the Russian base in the coastal province of Latakia, where he planned to keep fighting.
Assad said that after the Russian base came under attack by drones, the Russians decided to move him on the night of Dec 8 to Russia. “I did not leave the country as part of a plan as it was reported earlier,” Assad said.
The statement, released via the Syrian Presidency’s Telegram account, addressed rumors surrounding al-Assad’s departure and the collapse of his government after more than 13 years of civil conflict.
Al-Assad insisted that he did not plan the departure and remained in the capital city until the early morning hours of December 8, attending to his responsibilities. When militant groups entered Damascus, he coordinated with “Russian friends” to relocate to the coastal province of Latakia, aiming to continue directing military operations from there, he added.
However, upon his arrival at Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base, al-Assad realized that all remaining Syrian army positions had collapsed, and that ground forces had withdrawn from the front lines, said the statement. With the situation deteriorating and the Russian base itself encountering drone attacks, al-Assad said Moscow arranged an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of December 8. Al-Assad claimed that the idea of seeking asylum or relinquishing his post never arose before, saying his sole option had been to continue fighting, it was reported. (Agencies)

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