Syrian ex-president Assad comments for the first time after fleeing

The former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad commented for the first time on his escape to Russia on Monday, December 16. Assad declared that his evacuation from Syria was not planned and could not be considered flight in the conventional sense. According to Assad, he was evacuated from the Russian base Hmeimim on December 8 after it was attacked by drones. He had previously left the Syrian capital Damascus as rebels were approaching. The explosive developments in Syria had garnered international attention and now, following Assad's statement, cast a new light on the past events.