Assad fled Syria on December 8 amid drone attacks, statement says

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo via Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) -     Syria's Bashar al-Assad said on Monday he was evacuated to Russia from the Hmeimim base in Syria on the evening of Dec. 8 as it came under drone attacks, after leaving Damascus that morning with opposition fighters closing in. 

The comment, in a statement that was published on the Syrian presidency's Telegram channel and dated Dec. 16 from Moscow, was Assad's first in public since he was toppled more than a week ago by a rebel offensive. 

 (Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Tom Perry, Editing by Timothy Heritage)