As the situation in Damascus deteriorates, Assad presents himself as the guardian of Syria.

On Monday, Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian President, attempted to depict himself as a devoted "guardian" of his country who continued to battle "terrorism" until he was compelled to escape to Russia.

Over the past decade and a half, Assad gained infamy for his brutal and oppressive tactics during the civil war. In a statement on Telegram, he declared his dedication to Syria and expressed optimism that the country would one day be free and independent again.

After 14 years of conflict, human rights violations, and difficult living conditions for most Syrians, Assad was removed from power on December 8th as a result of a significant offensive led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, which captured western Syria from the north to the south, including Damascus, in a matter of weeks.

Assad aimed to combat the "deluge of falsehoods and distorted narratives that sought to portray international terrorism as a liberation movement for Syria" and vowed to continue fighting in the country for as long as possible.

Despite being aware for a week that the Syrian dictator left Moscow after the fall of Damascus, the specifics of his departure have not been disclosed.

Assad stated that after the initial attack hit Aleppo, Hama, and Homs before reaching the capital, he remained in Damascus until the morning of Dec. 8.

In response to terrorist infiltration in Damascus, I relocated to Lattakia in conjunction with our Russian allies to monitor combat activities.

Upon arriving at the Hmeimim Air Base in Syria, it was immediately clear that all Syrian army positions in the area had collapsed and opposition forces were increasingly targeting the base with drone strikes.

Assad stated that Moscow requested an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday 8th December, as there were no viable means of leaving the base.

As the rebel group seized control of the country, he stood alongside the military forces on the front lines, mere meters away from the terrorists in the most perilous and heated combat zones.

Assad maintained that he would not trade the well-being of his country for personal gain or compromise his people, despite numerous offers and incentives.

Assad defended his actions in Syria, citing the need to protect the people, despite widespread human rights abuses, torture, and mass detentions, including of children, that have been reported for years.

"I have always viewed myself as a guardian of a national project, backed by the faith of the Syrian people, who believed in its vision, and I have carried an unwavering conviction in their will and ability to protect the state, defend its institutions, and uphold their choices to the very last moment."