Ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad planned to keep fighting rebel forces in the country before Russia evacuated him out of the country, according to a statement attributed to him and released on Monday.
“My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles,” Assad, 59, said in a written statement shared on Telegram.
Assad said he had remained in Damascus until the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 8 — the day rebels entered the Syria’s capital.
Assad said that as rebel forces swept through the city, he moved north to Lattakia in coordination with Russian allies « to oversee combat operations. » It was at the nearby Hmeimim airbase when « it became clear that our forces had completely withdrawn from all battle lines and that the last army positions had fallen. »
Assad said that with no viable means of leaving the base, which he said had come under intensified drone strikes, Moscow requested an immediate evacuation to Russia that evening.
« This took place a day after the fall of Damascus, » he said. NBC News was not able to independently verify his account.
Assad maintained that prior to that point, he had not considered « stepping down or seeking refuge. »
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Gabrielle Nolin and Raf Sanchez contributed.
