Assad missed numerous opportunities to reconcile with his opponents and the international community, and was unable to solve his country's economic problems.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime was quick and unexpected, but the signs were always there. It has now become known that before his overthrow, Assad rejected an offer of an agreement from the United States that could have secured his rule.
The Washington Post reports this, citing information from Syrian diplomat Bassam Barabandi, who fled in the first days of the uprising.
In particular, the United States, through the United Arab Emirates, offered to lift tough American sanctions in exchange for Assad's commitment to stop providing Iran with opportunities to supply weapons and support for Lebanese Hezbollah militants due to land routes in Syria.
According to Barabandi, some advisers suggested that Assad accept such an indirect offer from the United States and sever ties with Iran in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, Assad decided that he would be able to negotiate better terms after Donald Trump's inauguration. Meanwhile, with the rebels approaching Damascus, Iran has already begun to withdraw its troops, and Assad's options have run out.
Analysts note that it is precisely this unwavering position of Assad, as well as his self-importance, that testifies to a deep inability to truly understand the realities in which he and Syria as a whole find themselves.
“He was never the smartest in the family. He lost so many opportunities because of his stubbornness,” said former Damascus University professor Amr Al-Azm.
In the run-up to the overthrow of the regime, Assad did not make a single public statement. He only met with the Iranian foreign minister. The long-awaited speech, which was expected on Saturday evening, December 7, never took place, writes WP.
Recall that Assad's relatives bought 20 luxury apartments in the center of Moscow for about 40 million dollars. The housing was purchased from 2013 to 2019 through offshore companies controlled by members of the dictator's family.
Currently, Assad and his family are in Russia.
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