Bashar al-Assad, in his first statement since his regime fell in Syria last week, has denied a “planned” departure from his country, news agency AFP reported. 

Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria with an iron grip for nearly three decades. 

Once thought unassailable, Assad’s rule collapsed on December 8 under the pressure of a rapid offensive led by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front affiliated with terror group Al-Qaeda, and allied factions. 

According to news agency AFP, Assad in a statement said Moscow requested his evacuation from Syria.

“As terrorism spread across Syria and ultimately reached Damascus on the evening of Saturday 7 December 2024, questions arose about the president’s fate and whereabouts. This occurred amidst a flood of misinformation and narratives far removed from the truth, aimed at recasting international terrorism as a liberation revolution for Syria,” the statement reads. 

Congress criticized the BJP for replacing a painting of the 1971 Pakistani surrender at Army HQ with new artwork, claiming it’s an attempt to rewrite history. The Army clarified the painting was moved to the Manekshaw Centre. The BJP countered, stating they’ve added, not removed, historical photographs.

CM Vishnu Deo Sai has expressed grief over the incident and instructed the district administration to provide the best medical assistance to the injured