How Bashar Assad fled to Moscow

The Syrian president did not even tell his relatives about his plans.

Hours before fleeing to Moscow, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad assured army and security chiefs that Russian military support was coming and urged ground forces to hold on. After that, he hastily left the country's capital, Damascus, leaving behind some personal belongings in his private residence.

This was reported by the Reuters agency on Friday, December 13, citing people familiar with the situation, most of whom requested anonymity.

According to an aide close to him, Assad told the head of his presidential office on Saturday when he finished work that he was going home, but instead headed to the airport.

He also called his media advisor Butaina Shaaban and asked her to come to his house to write…