In a sudden turn-of-events early Dec 8th‚ Bashar al-Assad boarded a plane in Damascus heading to an un-known destination‚ as stated by two high-ranking military officials
The departure comes after a week-long rebel push that changed Syriaʼs map: insurgents first took north-Aleppo then moved through other cities like a domino-effect (while the long-time president stayed silent about these developments)
Flight tracking data shows a Syrian Air aircraft left Damascus airport right when rebels entered the capital: the plane first went towards the Alawite-populated coast but made an odd u-turn and vanished from radar screens. Military experts suggest the aircraftʼs disappearance raises questions about its fate; one source thinks theres a high chance it was brought down
The timing matches with rebels taking Homs which cut-off Damascus from coastal areas where Assadʼs Russian friends have their bases. The presidents wife Asma and their kids location remains unclear too. Before this crisis Assad met officials in Moscow; then Iranian news showed his photo from a Damascus meeting just yesterday
- State TV claims he stayed in Damascus
- Only one tracked flight left Syria that night
- It went to UAE from Homs
- Russia or Iran could be possible safe spots