The story of Bashar al-Assad's secret escape when Syrian rebels toppled his regime
FirstpostAssad told his commanders and associates after his Moscow trip that military support was coming. His escape, shrouded in secrecy, left even close aides and family members in the dark, according to a Reuters report the cited interviews with 14 individuals familiar with the dramatic final days of Assad’s regime. “He let his supporters face their own fate.” Assad’s departure brought a sudden halt to the 13-year civil war that had devastated Syria, but it also showed the lengths he went to secure his survival. Rebel videos posted online showed Assad’s abandoned residence with cooked food left on the stove and personal items such as family photo albums strewn about, evidence of a hasty retreat. According to regional officials, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov worked through Turkey and Qatar, negotiating with the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to facilitate Assad’s escape.