In a shocking turn of events, former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has been accused of betraying his nation’s military secrets to Israel in exchange for his safe passage out of Syria. According to Turkish journalist Abdulkadir Selvi, Assad provided the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) with detailed intelligence on weapons depots, missile systems, and other critical military infrastructure to ensure his presidential jet was not targeted during his escape.
The alleged arrangement came amidst a dramatic sequence of events that saw Assad ousted from power by rebel forces earlier this month. Following his departure, the IDF launched a sweeping bombing campaign, striking hundreds of Syrian military targets with precision—a move that has reportedly dealt a significant blow to the remnants of Assad’s military apparatus.
Assad’s last act of betrayal
According to Selvi’s report in Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper, the information provided by Assad included the locations of high-value military installations and weapon systems. This intelligence is believed to have enabled Israel to execute its airstrikes with devastating accuracy.
In exchange, the IDF is said to have assured Assad’s safe departure from Damascus to Russia’s Hmeimim airbase in Latakia, where he boarded a Russian military jet. Assad later arrived in Moscow, leaving behind a nation ravaged by over a decade of civil war.
Assad’s defence
In his first statement since fleeing to Moscow, Assad denied allegations of treachery and insisted his departure was unplanned. Through the Syrian presidential Telegram channel, he claimed that he remained in Damascus until December 8, when a drone attack on Hmeimim airbase forced Moscow to orchestrate his evacuation.
“I have never sought refuge or stepped down willingly,” Assad said, portraying himself as a leader who stood by his people through the darkest days. “At no point did I consider abandoning the fight against the terrorist onslaught.”
Despite his denials, the revelations have cast a shadow over Assad’s legacy. Critics argue that his alleged betrayal confirms his desperation and cowardice in the face of imminent defeat.
The fall of damascus
The Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has since claimed control of Damascus, marking the end of Assad’s 23-year reign. HTS has established a transitional government under interim Prime Minister Mohammad al-Bashir, promising to stabilise the country and deliver aid to civilians.
Assad’s flight to Moscow has left his supporters and detractors grappling with the implications of his actions. While some view his alleged collusion with Israel as an unforgivable betrayal, others see it as a desperate act of self-preservation.
Syria’s mass graves: A grim reminder
As the nation grapples with its future, evidence of atrocities committed during Assad’s regime continues to surface. International war crimes prosecutors have reported mass graves near Damascus containing thousands of bodies—victims of systematic torture, starvation, and execution.
Stephen Rapp, former US war crimes ambassador, described the findings as evidence of a “machinery of death” reminiscent of Nazi-era atrocities. “We haven’t seen anything like this since the Nazis,” he said, emphasising the scale and organisation of the killings.
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Witness testimony has revealed chilling details of Assad’s secret police and military forces transporting bodies to sites such as Qutayfah and Najha, where they were buried in mass graves. The gravedigger, a key witness in ongoing investigations, described how hundreds of corpses were delivered weekly to the sites in refrigerated trucks between 2011 and 2018.
International response
The discovery of these mass graves has intensified calls for accountability. The International Commission on Missing Persons has identified 66 potential mass grave sites in Syria and is working to preserve evidence for future trials.
For the families of the missing, the path to justice will be long and arduous. DNA sampling and analysis of skeletal remains are crucial but require extensive cooperation from relatives and authorities.
Meanwhile, the United States and other nations are collaborating with UN bodies to support efforts to document and address these war crimes. However, the task is fraught with challenges, as many sites remain vulnerable to tampering or destruction.
A nation in transition
As Syria embarks on a new chapter under HTS, the wounds of the past remain raw. Assad’s alleged betrayal, coupled with the revelations of mass atrocities, underscores the immense challenges the country faces in seeking justice and rebuilding its future.
For now, the former president sits in exile in Moscow, his legacy in tatters. His alleged dealings with Israel and the damning evidence of war crimes ensure that his name will remain synonymous with treachery and tyranny in the annals of Syrian history.
