Exiled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was hospitalised in critical condition after being poisoned at his residence near Moscow, according to a report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights released on Thursday.Al-Assad, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was rushed to an emergency room on September 20 and spent nine days in the hospital before being discharged. “Whether the poisoning was a result of confusion or more, no one knows. When Bashar al-Assad was admitted to the hospital, he was admitted in an emergency room and in critical condition in intensive care in a private hospital in or near the Moscow suburbs,” the report stated.The alleged poisoning took place at a villa near Moscow, which is said to be heavily guarded by Russian security forces. Sources cited by the report claimed the Russian government was not involved, suggesting the act may have been intended to frame Russia and highlight that Putin could not guarantee al-Assad’s safety. “Only the party that carried out the operation knows whether it was to kill Bashar al-Assad or to embarrass the Russian government,” the report added. The claims have not been independently verified.Al-Assad fled to Russia last year and has reportedly been living in Moscow City, a luxury business district where several of his relatives purchased properties worth over £30 million between 2013 and 2019, according to Global Witness. His exact location remains unknown, though reports suggest he is under the protection of special agents.Putin had backed Assad during Syria’s conflict with rebel forces, maintaining military and economic interests in the country. Although Syria’s new leadership initially sought to reduce Russian influence earlier this year, ties have strengthened in recent months. Senior Syrian officials visited Moscow in July, and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to attend a Russian-Arab summit in Moscow on October 15.