In late 2012, when the Syrian government was weakening from rebel attacks, a surprising story emerged. It claimed that former President Bashar al-Assad made a secret deal with Israel to guarantee his safe escape from Syria. According to Turkish media, Assad shared important military secrets, including the locations of weapon storage sites and military bases, with Israel. This information helped Israel carry out airstrikes while Assad was fleeing to Russia.
A Turkish journalist named Abdulkadir Selvi wrote for Hurriyet, saying that Assad gave Israel a detailed list of where Syria kept its weapons and planes. This was supposed to make sure that Israeli fighter jets wouldn’t attack Assad’s escape plane. Selvi said his source was trustworthy, but it’s important to note that these claims haven’t been confirmed. Nonetheless, the timing of Israeli airstrikes right after Assad’s departure makes the allegations seem more believable. Israel aimed at military depots shortly after Assad left.
Israeli airstrikes began on December 8, 2012, focusing on key military targets to stop advanced weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups. Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) noted major destruction, including a blast at a weapons base in Tartus that was so big, it felt like a small earthquake. The Israeli Defense Forces claimed they were trying to prevent dangerous weapons from reaching extremists.
Assad managed to escape Syria on a helicopter to Russia, where he was given refuge by President Vladimir Putin. The operation was highly secretive, and Russian intelligence helped make it happen. Assad even changed his plane’s identification signal to avoid being seen. He reportedly did not inform most of his advisors about his escape plans, causing confusion among the leadership in Syria.
After Assad left, a new leader named Ahmed al-Sharaa took over in Syria. Unlike Assad, he did not want to create more tensions with Israel. He remarked that Israel had crossed a line, which could lead to more problems in the region. Al-Sharaa acknowledged that the long war in Syria made it tough for anyone to engage in new conflicts.
As rebel forces advanced toward Damascus, they took control of much of the capital, forcing Assad to leave. After he fled, Israel’s airstrikes on Syrian military sites led to questions about how accurate these operations were.
Despite the intriguing timing and details of this story, many are skeptical about the truth. Observers note that Russia, a strong supporter of Assad, played a crucial role in his survival and escape. It seems unlikely that Russia would have agreed to a deal with Israel that could harm its interests in Syria. Furthermore, without solid evidence, the claims remain uncertain, showing how complicated alliances and betrayals influenced the ongoing conflict.
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