Almost a week has passed since the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Assad had to flee the country. During this time, rumors like the crash of his plane also came to light, however by the next day it became clear that he was safe and had left the country. Now he is recognized as a refugee from Russia, thus ending the 50-year dictatorial rule of the Assad family in Syria. No one knows about the migration plan, although questions still remain regarding Assad. The biggest question is, when did he decide to leave the country. Who advised him, how and when did it come out and when was the outline of this entire exit plan prepared? It has come to light that Bashar al-Assad had not told almost anyone about his plan to leave Syria. On one hand, when the foundation of his rule was collapsing, he kept his associates, officials and even relatives in the dark. More than 12 people with knowledge of what happened in Syria revealed these things while talking to Reuters. Assad expected Russian military aid Hours before fleeing Moscow, Assad assured a meeting of about 30 army and security chiefs at the Defense Ministry on Saturday that Russian military aid would arrive soon. He urged the forces deployed on the ground to take charge. A commander attending this meeting gave this information, but on the condition of anonymity. A close aide said Assad told his presidential office manager on Saturday that he was going home after finishing work, but instead he went to the airport. Related News Ashad left his supporters to themselves, he also called his media advisor Bushaina Shaaban and called her to his home to prepare his speech. But when she arrived, the house was empty. “Assad didn’t even fight to the last battle. He didn’t even try to organize his troops,” said Nadim Houri, director of the Arab Reform Initiative. “He left his supporters to fend for themselves.” Conversations with 14 people The news agency has not been able to contact Assad in Moscow, where he has been given political asylum. Interviews with 14 people who knew the last days and hours of his rule closely present a picture of a leader who resorted to deception and secret plans to preserve his 24-year rule and ensure security. These sources include close aides of the former President, regional diplomats, security officials and senior Iranian officials. Most of these sources requested to keep their names confidential in order to speak openly on sensitive issues. Even Assad’s younger brother was not aware of the escape. Assad did not even tell his younger brother Maher, who was the commander of the army’s elite 4th Armored Division, about his plan. According to three associates, Maher traveled by helicopter to Iraq and then to Russia. Assad’s maternal uncle’s sons, Ehab and Iyad Makhlouf, were also left behind while fleeing Damascus. A Syrian aide and a Lebanese security official said the two were trying to flee to Lebanon by car, but were attacked by rebels on the way. Ehab was killed and Iyad was wounded. However, this incident could not be officially confirmed, and the news agency does not verify it. There was no positive message from Moscow. Russia had changed the atmosphere in favor of Assad in the Syrian civil war with its intervention in 2015, and Iran has been his staunch ally, but this time neither of them were ready to provide military assistance. . Syrian opposition leader Hadi al-Bahra said Assad told his commanders and allies after his visit to Moscow that military support was coming, but it was a lie. “The message he received from Moscow was negative.” Russia refused military intervention. During his visit to Moscow on November 29, Assad asked for help, but Russia refused any kind of military intervention. After this, on December 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Assad. By then the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had captured Aleppo and were moving towards Damascus. Asad looked very upset during this meeting. A senior Iranian diplomat said he acknowledged that his forces were no longer capable of offering effective resistance. …and, then Assad accepted the fall of powerFinally, Assad accepted the fall of his power and decided to leave the country. He first planned to seek asylum in the United Arab Emirates, but was denied there. Russia started efforts to get Assad out safely. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made diplomatic efforts with Qatar and Turkey. Assad took off from Damascus on 8 December. His plane was flying with the transponder switched off to avoid radar. They first reached Russia’s Hmeimim airbase in Latakia on the Syrian coast and from there went to Moscow. His family members were already waiting for him in Moscow. Videos from Assad’s home, posted by rebels on social media, show that he made a hasty decision to flee. Food cooked on the stove and personal belongings such as photo albums were left there.
