LOGIC.co.id – Amid the tightening rebel siege around Damascus, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad secretly launched a covert operation to smuggle cash, valuables, and critical documents out of the country. Using a private jet, Assad moved his treasures and inner circle members to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in four flights within 48 hours.
According to an investigative report by Reuters compiled from more than a dozen reliable sources, Yasar Ibrahim — Assad’s top economic advisor — arranged for the leasing of an Embraer Legacy 600 jet with tail number C5-SKY, registered in Gambia. This jet was used to transport critical assets, relatives, and Presidential Palace staff from Syria to Abu Dhabi.
Assad’s Hidden Wealth Network
Yasar Ibrahim, who heads the Presidential Financial and Economic Office, has been instrumental in building Assad-controlled corporate networks. According to U.S. sanction records and Syrian economic experts, Ibrahim often acted as a ‘frontman’ for the dictator in various sectors such as telecommunications, banking, real estate, and energy.
On these flights, the Embraer jet carried black bags filled with at least $500,000 in cash, as well as laptops, hard drives, and documents outlining the complex corporate network of Assad, internally known as “The Group.”
Secret Escape Route
The four jet flights were tracked through Flightradar24 data and satellite imagery. The final flight departed from the Russian military base in Hmeimim, near Latakia, on December 8 — the same day Assad reportedly fled to Russia. In fact, Assad concealed his whereabouts from even his close family members in the days leading up to the regime’s downfall.
The operation involved personnel from Syrian Air Force Intelligence and the Republican Guard. Military-clad officers secured VIP areas at Damascus International Airport, while civilian vehicles with darkened windows, suspected to belong to the Republican Guard, were seen transporting goods and passengers to the aircraft.
Sources within Assad’s business network revealed that the digital information carried out of the country included financial records, company ownerships, and overseas fund transfers.
The Role of the UAE and Russia
The fourth flight is known to have landed at the Hmeimim Base before returning to Abu Dhabi. On this flight, a close associate of Ibrahim, Ahmed Khalil Khalil, accompanied the $500,000 taken from the Al-Burj Investments account — a company owned by Ibrahim.
Armored vehicles from the UAE embassy in Damascus were seen approaching the VIP area before the final flight, raising suspicions of the UAE’s involvement or at least knowledge of the operation.
New Syrian Government Seeks Justice
Syria’s new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is now working to trace and recover the public funds smuggled out by Assad’s regime. A senior official stated that money was indeed taken out of the country before Assad’s downfall, but the exact whereabouts of the funds remain unknown.
Who Owns the C5-SKY Jet?
The jet used by Assad was reportedly leased through a broker from Lebanese businessman Mohamad Wehbe, owner of Dubai-based Flying Airline FZCO. The jet was registered under Flying Airline Company in Gambia and had previously flown to Russia, Assad’s ally, which is now also under Western sanctions.
Wehbe denied direct involvement in the operation and claimed he only occasionally leased the jet through brokers. The C5-SKY jet was even promoted for sale via his LinkedIn account in early 2024.