Assad behauptet in seiner ersten Erklärung seit seiner Flucht, er habe geplant, gegen syrische Rebellen zu kämpfen

Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has issued his first statement since fleeing the country after the collapse of his regime.

Assad says he had no plans to leave [Syria ](https://inews.co.uk/topic/syria?ico=in-line_link)after the [fall of Damascus a week ago ](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/everything-we-know-assad-flees-damascus-rebels-take-capital-3420531?ico=in-line_link)but the [Russian military evacuated him ](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/kremlin-confirms-operation-save-assad-3426950?ico=in-line_link)after their base came under attack.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Assad said he left Damascus on the morning of 8 December, hours after insurgents stormed the capital.

He said he moved in co-ordination with Russian allies to the Hmeimim airbase in the coastal province of Latakia, western Syria, where he planned to “oversee combat operations” and “continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught”.

“As the field situation in the area continued to deteriorate, the Russian military base itself came under intensified attack by drone strikes,” his statement reads.

“With no viable means of leaving the base, Moscow requested that the base’s command arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday 8 December.

“This took place a day after the fall of Damascus, following the collapse of the final military positions and the resulting paralysis of all remaining state institutions.

“At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party. The only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught.”

Several armed groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a lightning offensive against Assad’s forces in late November, culminating in their capture of the capital Damascus without resistance on 8 December.

In the immediate aftermath, Assad was reported to have fled the country for Moscow. This was officially confirmed by Russia’s deputy foreign minister on 10 December.

Dictator says that he is selfless representative of the people with no interest in power or material goods his position entails, well what do you know