Hours after reports suggested that President Bashar Assad had fled Syria, the country’s state news agency dismissed the claims on Saturday, asserting that he remains in Damascus and continues to carry out his official duties.
Speculation about Assad leaving with his family arose following insurgents’ announcements of reaching the suburbs of Damascus. The rapidly advancing offensive has already resulted in the capture of several major Syrian cities and continues to gain ground.
Rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani, representing the alliance spearheading the offensive, told AFP, “Our forces have begun the final phase of encircling the capital, Damascus.”
Meanwhile, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, known by his real name instead of his alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, addressed rebel fighters on Telegram, stating, “Damascus awaits you.”
Despite these assertions, Syria’s defense ministry refuted claims of its forces retreating near the capital. “There is no truth to news claiming our armed forces, present in all areas of the Damascus countryside, have withdrawn,” the ministry said.
Earlier, both a war monitor and Abdel Ghani confirmed that rebels had advanced to within 20 kilometers of Damascus, as government forces struggled to counter the offensive’s rapid momentum.
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Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday emphasized that the United States should steer clear of the ongoing conflict in Syria.
“Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform.
Trump also pointed out that Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, is currently focused on its war in Ukraine and “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.”
He further remarked that if Russia were compelled to leave Syria, it “may actually be the best thing that can happen to them” since “there was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia.”
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