The former president of Syria, Bashar Al-Assad, reportedly survived an assassination attempt while in Russia, where he sought political asylum following his ousting 10 months ago. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, citing a confidential source, Assad was discharged from a hospital on the outskirts of Moscow on Monday after being poisoned in an alleged operation aimed at discrediting the Russian government. It was reported that only his brother, Maher Assad, was permitted to visit him during a high-security situation, and Assad’s current condition is described as “stable.” The Russian government has not yet responded to these allegations.
The new Syrian authorities have requested the extradition of Assad, which Russia has thus far declined. President Putin personally granted asylum to Assad, his family members, and regime associates. Assad, aged 60, has remained out of the public eye since arriving in Russia, presumably under tight surveillance by Russian intelligence services.
There is currently no independent verification of Assad being poisoned. An earlier unconfirmed report stated that shortly after arriving in Russia, Assad complained to his security personnel about feeling unwell and experiencing breathing difficulties. However, this account remains unverified.
