As rebels complex towards the Syrian capital of Damascus on Dec. 7, the group of workers within the hilltop Presidential Palace ready for a speech they was hoping would result in a calm finish to the 13-year civil battle.Aides to President Bashar al-Assad have been brainstorming messaging concepts. A movie team had arrange cameras and lighting within sight. Syria’s state-run tv station was once able to broadcast the completed product: an deal with through Mr. al-Assad saying a plan to percentage energy with participants of the political opposition, in keeping with 3 individuals who have been concerned within the preparation.Running from the palace, Mr. al-Assad, who had wielded concern and pressure to care for his authoritarian rule over Syria for greater than 20 years, had betrayed no sense of alarm to his group of workers, in keeping with a palace insider whose workplace was once close to the president’s.The capital’s defenses were strengthened, Mr. al-Assad’s aides have been informed, together with through the robust 4th Armored Department of the Syrian Military, led through the president’s brother Maher al-Assad, the insider mentioned.They’d all been deceived.After nightfall, the president slipped out of the capital, flying covertly to a Russian army base in northern Syria after which on a Russian jet to Moscow, in keeping with six Heart Jap govt and safety officers.Maher al-Assad fled one by one that night with different senior army officials around the barren region to Iraq, in keeping with two Iraqi officers. His present location stays unknown.Thanks on your persistence whilst we check get entry to. If you’re in Reader mode please go out and log into your Instances account, or subscribe for all of The Instances.Thanks on your persistence whilst we check get entry to.Already a subscriber? Log in.Need all of The Instances? Subscribe.