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Escape or Protection? Saint Petersburg: The New Haven for the Assad Family !
Escape or Protection? Saint Petersburg: The New Haven for the Assad Family
The various reasons behind the Syrian regime leader's stay in Russia raise many questions about the future of Syria's leadership and regional alliances.
According to exclusive sources within Syria cited by the London-based Levant newspaper, since Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad traveled to Russia and met with Putin, he has not returned to Syria and is now residing in Saint Petersburg, where he owns a house. According to these sources, Bashar al-Assad's daughter is with him, along with the daughter of Ammar Suleiman, who is allegedly involved in "collecting/stealing" money monthly from Syria and delivering it to Putin.
House Arrest or Protection? According to the sources, there are conflicting accounts regarding the reasons for Bashar al-Assad's stay in Russia. Some suggest it could be a form of house arrest imposed by Putin, while others believe it is for his protection, preventing him from being targeted if he returns to Syria.
The first possibility is that Bashar al-Assad's stay in Russia is a form of house arrest ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This would mean Assad is under a form of house arrest imposed by the Russian government, indicating Russian control or pressure on the Syrian regime's leadership. This scenario raises questions about the independence of Syrian decision-making and the extent of Kremlin influence on Syrian policies.
The second possibility is that Assad's stay in Russia serves as a protective measure to prevent him from being targeted if he returns to Syria. This reflects concerns over potential security threats to Assad, whether from within Syria or from regional or international forces. In this context, Russia might be providing protection to Assad as part of its strategy to maintain stability in Syria and secure its interests there.
Possibility of Elimination by Iranians: The sources also did not rule out other possibilities, such as Assad's stay in Russia being intended to prevent the Iranians from eliminating him if they had discovered his leaking of information that endangered individuals within Tehran’s orbit, either inside or outside Syria.
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This scenario is based on the hypothesis that Assad may have leaked sensitive information that threatens individuals close to Tehran, whether inside Syria or abroad. If this hypothesis is correct, Assad's stay in Russia might be a way to ensure his safety from any retaliatory attempts by the Iranian side. This could reflect potential tensions between Assad and his regional allies, indicating that Assad might feel at risk if he returns to Syria, making Russia the safest place for him at the moment.
Fears of Being Targeted by Hezbollah or Israel: The sources also considered the possibility that Assad's stay in Russia is due to disputes between him and Hezbollah, making him fearful of returning to Syria.
The sources suggested that there might be disagreements between Bashar al-Assad and his regional allies, such as Hezbollah, which could make him reluctant to return to Syria. Political or strategic disagreements could lead to tensions, prompting Assad to prefer staying in Russia for greater safety.
Additionally, there are concerns that Assad could be targeted by the Israelis. This possibility reflects ongoing security tensions in the region and the Syrian-Israeli conflict, suggesting that Assad's stay in Russia might be a way to avoid these risks and ensure his safety.
Risks of Assad's Return to Syria: It seems that all these possibilities are plausible, indicating that Assad's life in Syria during this period is at its most threatened since the long uprising began by Syrians in 2011. This is especially true as some of his supposed friends have become a source of concern for him, particularly with Assad not being involved in the ongoing battle in Gaza following Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7th.
Given the unstable security situation and shifting political landscape, Assad feels that he is a target for many parties, whether former allies or adversaries.
Exclusive,Levant News
