Hafez, the son of Bashar Assad, recounted his family's movements during the early days of unrest in their home country. While he was in Moscow for his studies and his mother was there for medical reasons, escalating violence prompted his return to Damascus. A Russian official later directed the family to relocate to Latakia, a coastal city with a significant Russian military presence. Their journey included a secretive flight from an empty Damascus airport to Hmeimim Airbase, highlighting the close ties between the family and Russian authorities.