Assad's escape: The Kremlin's secret operation and the role of Russian intelligence

The behind-the-scenes story of how ousted leader Bashar al-Assad fled Syria to seek refuge in Moscow has been revealed. A striking detail regarding Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Assad's greatest ally who once again opened his doors to Assad and his family, has created a stir.

THE KREMLIN HAS NOT FORGOTTEN 'GADDAFI'

According to a Bloomberg report, Russia had to persuade Assad to leave the country, and Russian intelligence agents organized his escape to Moscow.

According to the report, "The Kremlin, unable to forget the killing of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, decided to rescue Assad from Syria because Moscow did not want him to die as Gaddafi did in Libya."

"PUTIN WAS ANGRY AT HIS AGENTS"

Citing sources within the Kremlin, Bloomberg wrote that Russian President Vladimir Putin is investigating the failures of Russian intelligence in detecting the threats to the administration of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Sources speaking to Bloomberg revealed that Russian intelligence agents facilitated Assad's escape and escorted him through a Russian military base in Syria.

TRANSPONDER SIGNAL ON TRANSPORT PLANE DISABLED

To ensure the operation could not be detected, the transponder signal on Assad's transport plane was disabled to prevent tracking.

RUSSIANS PERSUADED ASSAD

The report also stated that Moscow persuaded Assad to seek refuge in Russia after determining that his chances of winning the conflict against opposition forces were slim.

"NOT EVEN HIS BROTHER WAS INFORMED"

The newspaper reported that "the operation was carried out with such secrecy that it was reported that not even the dictator's brother was informed," adding:

"Ten years ago, it was Russian military power that saved Bashar al-Assad's regime by intervening on his side in a losing civil war that he was trying to suppress with violence. Now, as opposition forces approached Damascus, Moscow provided Assad with a personal escape route."

'BETTER THAN IRAN'

"Assad's travel options were always going to be limited. As a pariah on the global stage, his two major allies, Russia and Iran, were the obvious places to seek refuge," experts speaking to The Guardian suggested that by choosing Moscow, Assad selected a familiar place consistent with his lavish habits, while also choosing a sanctuary with relative geopolitical stability.

David Lesch, a Syria expert at Trinity University in Texas, said, "Bashar and his family are clearly secular, despite their identification with the Alawite sect, so Russia was always more attractive in that sense than Iran."

News Source: 12punto