Assad inner circle smuggled cash to UAE before regime collapse – Reuters
DAMASCUS, Syria (north Press) – In a detailed investigation published on Thursday, Reuters revealed that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad orchestrated the transfer of large sums of money and sensitive documents to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final days before his regime’s collapse, as opposition forces closed in on Damascus.
Citing more than 10 informed sources, the report indicates that Yasar Ibrahim—Assad’s top economic advisor—personally arranged the chartering of a private jet to transport the president’s valuable possessions, close relatives, aides, and senior palace staff to the UAE.
The operation was carried out over four consecutive flights aboard an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft within a 48-hour span.
Flight-tracking data reviewed by Reuters showed that the final flight departed from Russia’s Khmeimim Airbase on Dec. 8. This timeline was confirmed by satellite imagery and the testimony of a former Air Force Intelligence official with direct knowledge of the mission.
The aircraft carried unmarked black suitcases containing no less than $500,000 in cash, alongside sensitive documents, laptops, and hard drives believed to contain critical intelligence information.
The investigation also draws on WhatsApp conversations between Ibrahim’s aides, satellite images, and aircraft and company ownership records spanning three continents. Collectively, this evidence illustrates how Assad’s inner circle coordinated the safe evacuation of wealth and personnel.
Ibrahim’s role extended far beyond logistics. According to U.S. sanctions notices, economic experts, and sources from within Assad’s business network, Ibrahim was central to building a complex web of companies and financial structures that enabled Assad to control vast sectors of the Syrian economy.
A senior official in Syria’s transitional government told Reuters that the administration is determined to recover the public funds smuggled out of the country in the regime’s final days, in order to revive the national economy.
While Reuters could not independently confirm whether Assad directly oversaw the smuggling operation, multiple well-placed sources insisted that such an operation could not have been carried out without his explicit approval.