Assad denies planning to flee Syria before evacuation by Moscow

Former Syrian leader claimed he wanted to stay and fight but left after Russian airbase came under attack

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has said he had no plans to flee Syria before being evacuated by the Russian army after its base in western Syria came under attack.

In his first comments since the fall of his brutal regime, Assad said he had planned to keep fighting rebel forces.

Topics

Bashar al-Assad denies planning exit from Syria

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Assad denies planning to flee Syria before evacuation by Moscow

Topics

Related

Bashar al-Assad denies planning exit from Syria

Al-Assad denies planned departure from Syria in alleged statement

Assad dispatched $250mn of Syria’s cash to Moscow

Monday Briefing: Al-Assad Flees Syria as Rebels Claim Power

Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say

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