Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has stated that he only left Syria after the fall of Damascus during the early stages of the Syrian civil war. In a recent statement, he referred to the individuals who emerged as leaders in the opposition as “terrorists,” accusing them of attempting to dismantle Syria and destabilize the region. Assad’s comments came as part of his ongoing efforts to delegitimize those who opposed his regime and to assert his narrative of the conflict.
Assad, who has been in power since 2000, faced significant opposition after anti-government protests erupted in 2011. These protests eventually escalated into a full-scale civil war. As the war progressed, Assad was forced to leave the capital temporarily but maintains that his departure was a necessary move for his personal safety during the height of the conflict.
The Syrian leader has consistently claimed that the opposition forces are largely made up of terrorists supported by foreign powers aiming to divide Syria. His government, with the backing of Russia and Iran, has been working to regain control over rebel-held areas, and Assad has since made a return to the capital. Despite the ongoing tensions and criticisms from the international community, he remains a dominant figure in Syria, continuing to face challenges from both internal dissent and external pressures.
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