Betrayal by a close friend? Vladimir Putin tricked Bashar-al-Assad in his last days of power; wasn't picking up his calls

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly helped ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flee to Russia after Syrian insurgents captured Damascus.

There was a lot of applause in the international circles about Putin for his actions during the Syrian crisis, but a recent report has landed as a bombshell on the Russian government, as Kamel Saqr, Syria’s former media chief and top aide to the al-Assad regime has claimed that Russia did not support the regime in any form even after making promises.

Did Putin try to play a trick on Bashar al-Assad?

Russia and Iran are close allies, and al-Assad has requested Putin to provide him with necessary backup and armaments to fight off Syrian insurgents, but after Putin's promise that he would liaison with his chief of staff to get ready to support any transport needed for Iran at Russia’s Hmeimim base in Latakia.


But, Al-Assad claimed that the Iranians told him they did not receive any green signal from Russia to use the military base in Latakia.

Did Iran try to help Syria at all?

Saqr then went on to say that there was no explanation as to why Russia did not assist Syria in this regard and help Iranian military to fly through Iraqi airspace to land at the base.

The Iranians also explained to the ousted Syrian President that they did try to send over a support aircraft to Syria through the Iraqi airspace, but they were promptly warned by the US that the aircraft would be shot down if it continued on its course.

FAQs:

Is Bashar al-Assad in exile?
Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has been ousted by Syrian insurgents who took control of Damascus, the Syrian capital some time ago last year. Al-Assad is currently in Russia, seeking political asylum.