In his first public comments since being toppled from power over a week ago, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad claimed he had planned to continue fighting before being evacuated to Russia. However, residents in Damascus dismissed his assertions as the country grapples with the aftermath of the rebel victory that ended Assad’s 13-year rule.
Assad Claims He Wished to Keep Fighting
According to a statement published on the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel, Assad said he left the Hmeimim base in Syria on the evening of December 8 as it came under drone attacks, after departing Damascus that morning with opposition fighters closing in. He asserted that “at no time during the events” had he considered leaving Syria.
In a Facebook post, Assad claimed he had intended to keep fighting but was evacuated by the Russians. “I wished to stay and battle to the end,” he stated, as reported by the TASS news agency.
Syrians Dismiss Assad’s Comments
However, residents in Damascus were quick to dismiss Assad’s comments. “Is he going to run away from us? He still won’t be able to run away from God,” Moataz al-Ahmed told the Associated Press as children stepped on a fallen statue of Assad’s father, Hafez, who began the family’s half-century rule.
“The Assad regime is finished with no return, and Russia should reconsider its presence on Syrian territory as well as its interests,” said Obeida Arnaout, spokesperson for the transitional government’s political department.
Rebel Victory Ushers in New Era
The spokesperson added that Syria has entered a new phase open to the world and that the new government seeks to build good relations with its neighbors and the international community. He also called for the US and other countries to reconsider designating Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group, as a terrorist organization.
As world powers scramble to engage with Syria’s new rulers, UN envoy Geir Pedersen met with rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, stressing “the need for a credible and inclusive Syrian-owned and led political transition.” Diplomats are vying for influence over the government that will replace Assad’s regime.
Russia’s Fragile Truce with Rebels
Although Russia is pulling back its military from northern Syria and the Alawite Mountains, it will maintain its two main bases in the country. Russian soldiers have begun negotiating with the same rebel factions they were bombing just over a week ago, forming a fragile truce.
“We don’t feel unsafe, we are hoping to make friendly relations with the new government,” a representative of the Russian military told the Guardian, as Russian jets took off from the Khmeimim airbase now guarded by rebel fighters.
Uncertainty Looms Over Syria’s Future
As Syria navigates the aftermath of Assad’s downfall, uncertainty looms over the country’s future direction. European Union nations have set out conditions for lifting sanctions and providing aid, demanding guarantees from the interim government of a peaceful political future involving all minority groups, free from extremism and the influence of former allies Russia and Iran.
Meanwhile, the country’s gold reserves remain intact at nearly 26 tonnes, the same amount as at the start of the civil war in 2011, according to sources familiar with the situation. However, Syria has only a small amount of foreign currency reserves in cash.
“Syria faces an optimistic, positive, but rather uncertain future, and we have to make sure that this goes to the right direction,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters. “For us, it’s not only the words, but we want to see the deeds.”
As the dust settles on the dramatic events that saw the collapse of Assad’s despotic rule, the international community and the Syrian people await the next chapter in the country’s tumultuous history. The path ahead remains unclear, but the hope for a brighter future free from oppression and conflict burns brightly in the hearts of those who have endured unimaginable hardship.
