[Regnum] Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, commenting on the information about the probable death of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, which was reported earlier by Reuters, asked with a touch of irony whether the publication would issue a refutation.
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At the moment, it is known that Assad’s family and he himself are in Moscow.
"I wonder if Reuters, which reported "highly likely" Assad's death, will refute itself? But this is the spread of fakes that the West is so zealously fighting," Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel.
On December 8, Assad's office accused a number of foreign media outlets of publishing fake news about the president's departure to another country.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, on December 7, CNN, citing a source, reported that Bashar al-Assad could not be found in Damascus. It was noted that his guard, which usually protects and accompanies the president, was also missing. The source suggested that Assad could have fled the city and even the country. According to the rebels, they also have no reliable information about Assad's whereabouts, but they continue to search for him.
Syrian authorities later denied reports that Assad had left the country.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Assad had resigned and left the country, and also instructed his subordinates to peacefully transfer power. The head of the Syrian government, Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, announced his readiness to transfer power to ensure the functioning of state institutions.
The national flag of the Syrian Arab Republic was removed from the flagpole above the Syrian embassy in Moscow on December 8.
For several years, Russia has supported the Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad in their fight against terrorist forces. The country has pledged to provide support as long as the fighting is being carried out by the Syrian state itself, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted earlier. At the same time, back in 2015, the head of state indicated that “we are not going to be more Syrian than the Syrians themselves,” since the problem in question is an internal matter for Damascus.
Bashar al-Assad and his family arrived in Moscow on December 8, and Russia granted them asylum.
More from regnum.ru
US denies Assad tried to establish contacts
[Regnum] A White House spokesman has denied reports that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad tried to establish a secret channel of communication with the United States before resigning. The official said this on December 8 at a special briefing for journalists on the situation in the Arab Republic.
"We have not received any serious requests from Assad. Moreover, even if there had been such attempts, we would not have accepted them," TASS quotes the US administration representative as saying.
It is noted that this statement is the official position of the United States on the Syrian issue. The official also emphasized that Washington's policy towards Syria remains clear and consistent.
As reported by Regnum, on December 7, Bloomberg reported that Bashar al-Assad asked the United States for help in confronting terrorists who had seized part of the country's territory. In exchange, he allegedly promised to break off cooperation with the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and other groups supported by Iran. At the same time, there were no official comments from the Assad government. Allegedly, Damascus continues to fight the terrorists. The publication claims that the Syrian president ordered his army to retreat in order to protect Damascus, "essentially ceding most" of the country to the rebels.
US President-elect Donald Trump said on December 7 that Syrian militants are continuing their offensive, are already on the outskirts of Damascus and are preparing to overthrow Bashar al-Assad. Trump believes that chaos is taking place in Syria. According to him, the Arab Republic is not a friend of the US and Washington should not interfere in the situation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Assad had resigned and left the country, and also instructed his subordinates to peacefully transfer power. The head of the Syrian government, Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, announced his readiness to transfer power to ensure the functioning of state institutions.