Bashar al-Assad has said Russia forced him to flee Syria and that he wanted to continue fighting the “terrorist onslaught”.

In his first statement since the fall of Damascus, the former president said that he went to the Russian air base in Latakia on Dec 8 to “oversee combat operations” as the capital was taken by the rebels.

After the base came under drone fire, Moscow ordered an immediate evacuation to Russia, Assad said.

“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.

Assad then went on to claim that he had never betrayed his country for personal gain and had throughout the war “stood alongside officers and soldiers of the army on the front lines, just metres from the terrorists”.

“This does not, in any way, diminish my profound sense of belonging to Syria and her people,” he added.

Assad, who Russia says is now living in asylum in Moscow with his family, released the statement on Monday via the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel.

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