Escaping from Syria: The Cunning getaway of Assad’s A team
President Bashar Assad’s escape to Russia on December 8 has caused a stir among his collaborators, many of whom were left behind. As Assad fled to Moscow from the Khmeymim Russian military airport on the Syrian coast, only a handful of confidants accompanied him, including his ally Mansur Azzam and economic advisor Yasar Ibrahim. His brother Maher Assad, who leads the elite Fourth Division in Damascus, was unaware of his brother’s plans and fled to Iraq before making his way to Russia.
Maher’s wife and son briefly entered Lebanon before departing from Beirut airport, while Syria’s former security chief Ali Mamluk also fled to Russia through Iraq. Both Maher and Bashar Assad are wanted by France for alleged war crimes related to chemical attacks in Syria, with French courts sentencing Mamlouk to life imprisonment in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Other prominent figures, such as Bouthaina Shaaban and Kifah Mujahid, have also fled to various destinations, while Ihab Makhlouf, Bashar’s cousin, was killed during an escape attempt. Rami Makhlouf, once Syria’s richest man and a symbol of regime corruption, survived and is believed to be in the United Arab Emirates.
Several other close associates of the Assad government, including Ghassan Belal and businessmen Mohammed Hamsho, Khalid Qaddur, Samer Debs, and Samir Hassan, have sought refuge in Lebanon. Additionally, some senior Syrian officers were reportedly given safe passage to the Hmeymim air base by the Russians as a reward for instructing their troops not to resist rebel attacks.
The escape of Assad’s inner circle has raised questions about the future of Syria and the implications for the region. As the international community continues to monitor the situation, the whereabouts of key figures remain a topic of interest and speculation.
