Was Bashar al-Assad poisoned in an assassination bid in Moscow?

Was an assassination attempt made on Syria’s deposed ruler Bashar al-Assad?

There are reports that Assad, who ruled Syria for over two decades, was the victim of an attempted poisoning.

Assad fled to Russia in December after being ousted by rebels groups in Syria.

But what happened? What do we know?

Let’s take a closer look:

What happened?

Social media account General SVR, reportedly run by an ex-top Russian spy, claimed that Assad had fallen sick on Sunday afternoon.

“There is every reason to believe an assassination attempt was made," the social media account alleged.

The account claimed that Assad first alerted security guards about feeling unwell and breathing problems.

Assad asked for medical help to be called, then began coughing violently and even choking.

Assad was given water, which helped a little, but his breathing still did not return to normal.

By now, he also had a headache and abdominal pain. By the time medical help arrived, Assad’s condition was becoming worse, the account alleged.

Russian authorities were alerted and a treatment room was set up in Assad’s apartment.

His condition is now stable but tests show that the ex-Syrian dictator was exposed to a poisonous substance, the account claimed.

However, the account has cited no sources.

There is also no confirmation from Russia.

Express UK pointed out that the social media outlet has previously published stories about Putin that the Kremlin has dismissed.

This includes when Putin allegedly fell down some stairs and soiled himself.

Assad and his family have reportedly been in Moscow since December 8.

As per Politico, it was Russia’s President Vladimir Putin who made the decision to give Assad and his family shelter.

“Such decisions certainly cannot be made without the head of state. It was his decision,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador to international organisations in Vienna, confirmed the news in a post on X.

“Breaking news! Bashar al-Assad and his family in Moscow. Russia does not betray friends in difficult situations,” Ulyanov said.

Asma unhappy?

There were reports that Assad’s wife Asma , unhappy with their life in Moscow, was considering filing for divorce and heading to the UK.

However, the Kremlin has refuted those reports.

UK government sources also told The Times that Asma has been barred from the UK as her passport is not valid.

Asma, a dual citizen of Syria and the UK, has an aggressive form of blood cancer, as per The Telegraph.

Assad, who ruled Syria for 24 years, left the capital, Damascus, following his removal from power amid a prolonged anti-regime uprising.

He issued directives for a peaceful transfer of authority before his departure, according to a Kremlin source cited by the TASS news agency.

The rebel coalition, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , began their lightning offensive on November 27.

Moscow was one of Assad’s biggest backers alongside with Iran during his presidency. Russia’s forces became militarily involved in the Syrian conflict, which had begun in 2011, in 2015, providing support for Assad’s forces to crush the opposition in the bloody civil war.

With inputs from agencies