Syria's President Bashar al-Assad addresses the new members of parliament in Damascus, Syria in this handout released by SANA on August 12, 2020.
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Assad says he didn’t plan to flee Syria, in apparent first public statement

A statement posted to social media in Moscow appears to detail the events leading to former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s decision to flee the country for Russia. CNN’s Frederick Pleitgen breaks it down.

2:40 • Source: CNN
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Syria's President Bashar al-Assad addresses the new members of parliament in Damascus, Syria in this handout released by SANA on August 12, 2020.
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Assad says he didn’t plan to flee Syria, in apparent first public statement
2:40
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• Source: CNN
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
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Is the Strait of Hormuz really closed?
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<p>Video geolocated by CNN shows smoke and small flames rising from a building in the vicinity of the US Embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq. CNN has contacted the State Department for comment.</p>
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Video shows smoke rising from vicinity of US embassy in Baghdad
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Strike seen close to Al Quds Day march in Iran
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