Reuters: Bashar al-Assad prepared secret escape plan without informing his brother Maher

ARK News. Reuters has revealed that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad drew up a secret plan to flee Syria as his regime collapsed, without informing most of his aides, government officials or even his close relatives.

According to Reuters, Assad held a meeting with about 30 military and security leaders at the defense ministry on Saturday, 7 December 2024, just hours before leaving Syria. During the meeting, he assured them that Russian military support was on its way and urged ground forces to hold their positions.

A source who attended the meeting said: "There was no hint of his escape plans. Even the civilian staff were unaware of anything".

According to an insider from Assad's inner circle, the former president left his office on Saturday evening and went to the airport instead of his residence. He told his chief of staff that he would end the day at home.

Three of Assad's aides confirmed that he did not inform his younger brother, Maher al-Assad, commander of the elite Fourth Armored Division, of his departure. One of the aides revealed that Maher later took a helicopter to Iraq and then to Russia.

In the early hours of Sunday 8 December, Assad left Damascus in a private jet, flying under the radar after the plane's transponder was disabled. Regional diplomats said the move was aimed at avoiding capture by opposition forces advancing on the capital.

The jet landed at Russia's Himeimim airbase in the coastal city of Latakia, after which Assad boarded another plane to Moscow. His wife Asma and their three children were reportedly waiting for him in the Russian capital.

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