Bashar al-Assad, the ousted Syrian president, reportedly transferred $135 billion to Russia before fleeing to Moscow, according to Khalid Bey, an intelligence officer from the former Syrian regime. Bey made the revelation in an interview with the Turkish newspaper Turkiye Gazetesi.
Rebel forces overran Damascus on Sunday, December 8, bringing an end to Assad’s regime and gaining control of the Syrian capital. The fall of his government has been met with widespread celebration, as Syrians at home and abroad expressed relief over the end of his rule.
In Damascus, rebels and civilians stormed Assad’s opulent palaces, uncovering evidence of his extravagant lifestyle, including a rare Ferrari F50 among his collection of luxury cars. Assad has since sought refuge in Russia.
Major Bey claimed that Assad smuggled $135 billion to Russia, but he provided no further details about how the massive transfer was executed.
He also described infighting within Assad’s loyalist army, particularly between pro-Russian and pro-Iranian factions.
“The first clash occurred between Aleppo’s commander, General Muhammad Safadli, and Russian-backed General Suheil Hassan,” Bey stated. “The conflict caused a breakdown in communication between military intelligence and the army, which ultimately contributed to the opposition’s advance on Damascus.”
The fall of Damascus marks a turning point in Syria’s long-standing civil war, with rebels now controlling the capital. Assad’s departure to Russia and reports of his vast wealth transfer have raised questions about the future of Syria’s governance and the implications of his close ties with Moscow.
[…] to tackle the rising wave of antisemitic incidents, including arson at Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue and attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions. Authorities have classified the Melbourne […]