Assad's first reaction since defeat: 'I didn't intend to leave Syria, but Russians ...'

President Bashar al-Assad

Syria's Bashar al-Assad said on Monday he was evacuated to Russia from the Hmeimim base in Syria on the evening of December 8 as it came under drone attacks, after leaving Damascus that morning with opposition fighters closing in.

The comment, in a statement that was published on the Syrian presidency's Telegram channel and dated December 16 from Moscow, was Assad's first in public since he was toppled more than a week ago by a rebel offensive.

He also added that "at no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party".

He said he wanted to keep fighting but the Russian military evacuated him after their base in western Syria came under attack.