Assad’s Final Hours in Syria: How the Syrian Leader Fled as Rebels Seized Power
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus under the cover of darkness in the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 8, marking the end of his 24-year rule and his family’s half-century grip on power. His escape came as rebel forces stormed the capital, with no last-minute military intervention from key allies Russia or Iran.
A Secretive Escape Plan
Interviews with 14 individuals, including Assad’s former aides, regional diplomats, and security officials, reveal that the embattled leader sought foreign assistance to prolong his rule before ultimately orchestrating his own departure. According to sources, Assad did not even inform his younger brother, Maher al-Assad—commander of the elite 4th Armored Division—of his plan. Maher later fled separately, reportedly flying a helicopter to Iraq before heading to Russia.
Two of Assad’s influential cousins, Ehab and Eyad Makhlouf, also attempted to escape but were ambushed by rebels while driving toward Lebanon. Ehab was killed, and Eyad was wounded, according to a Syrian aide and a Lebanese security official. Reuters was unable to verify this independently.
Assad himself left Damascus by aircraft with the transponder switched off to avoid detection, two regional diplomats said. His flight took him to Russia’s Hmeimim airbase in Latakia before continuing to Moscow, where he was granted political asylum. His wife, Asma, and their three children had already arrived in the Russian capital.
Russia and Iran Decline Military Intervention
In the days leading up to his escape, Assad sought military assistance from Moscow and Tehran. However, sources indicate that both governments declined to intervene as his forces collapsed under the rebel advance.
On Nov. 28, Assad traveled to Moscow to plead for support after rebels launched a rapid offensive in northern Syria, but Russian officials reportedly dismissed his requests. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later stated that Russia had invested considerable effort in stabilizing Syria but was now focused on the conflict in Ukraine.
Iran also refused to deploy forces, fearing that such a move could provoke Israeli military action, according to senior Iranian officials. Assad appeared visibly distressed during a Dec. 2 meeting in Damascus with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, acknowledging that his military was too weakened to resist the rebel advance.
Attempts to Secure Safe Haven
Realizing his regime’s imminent collapse, Assad initially sought refuge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but the Gulf nation reportedly declined, fearing international backlash due to the sanctions against him.
Russia then took the lead in securing Assad’s escape, coordinating diplomatic efforts through Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Sources said Lavrov engaged with Turkey and Qatar to leverage their influence over Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that played a key role in the rebel offensive, to guarantee Assad’s safe passage.
According to multiple sources, Moscow also ensured that neighboring states would not intercept Assad’s plane as it left Syrian airspace.
The Aftermath
Following Assad’s departure, rebel forces and civilians entered the presidential palace in Damascus. Videos circulating online showed signs of a hurried exit, including personal belongings and food left behind.
Assad’s former prime minister, Mohammed Jalali, recounted his last conversation with the leader on the evening of Dec. 7. “He told me, ‘Tomorrow, we will see.’ That was the last thing he said to me,” Jalali told Al Arabiya TV. By dawn, Assad was gone.
His sudden flight marked a decisive moment in Syria’s 13-year civil war, abruptly ending one of the region’s most enduring dictatorships.
