"Syria in the hands of terrorism": Assad's first statement from Russia

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Bashar al-Assad, in his first statement since his regime fell in Syria last week, has denied a "planned" departure from his country, news agency AFP reported. 


Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria with an iron grip for nearly three decades. 


Once thought unassailable, Assad's rule collapsed on December 8 under the pressure of a rapid offensive led by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front affiliated with terror group Al-Qaeda, and allied factions. 


According to news agency AFP, Assad in a statement said Moscow requested his evacuation from Syria.


"As terrorism spread across Syria and ultimately reached Damascus on the evening of Saturday 7 December 2024, questions arose about the president's fate and whereabouts. This occurred amidst a flood of misinformation and narratives far removed from the truth, aimed at recasting international terrorism as a liberation revolution for Syria," the statement reads.