On the 8th local time, the situation in Syria escalated rapidly. Many foreign media quoted Syrian anti-government forces as saying that they “completely controlled” Homs and had entered the capital Damascus. Against this background, many foreign media paid close attention to the movements of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and their statements were different.
“The president has left the capital”
According to Reuters and CNN local time on the 8th, Syrian anti-government forces said that Syrian President Bashar Assad had left the capital Damascus. Saudi Arabia’s Arab News and other Arab media pointed out that Assad had indeed left Damascus, but his whereabouts were currently unknown.
“The president has left Syria”
AFP quoted a source as saying that after the Syrian anti-government forces launched a “lightning offensive”, President Assad had left the country through Damascus International Airport.
On the same day, all flights at Damascus International Airport were suspended and staff had been evacuated. CNN reported that “there was chaos inside Damascus Airport.”
“The president is still working in the capital”
Qatar’s Al Jazeera reported that earlier on the 7th, the Syrian presidential palace issued a statement denying that Assad had left Damascus.
On the same day, the Syrian state news agency also said that Assad was still in Damascus and working there.