Assad charts escape to Russian base at Tartus via Lebanon?

According to the Lebanese daily A-Nahar of Sunday, Syrian President Bashar Assad plans to flee from his current hideout at Yaafur to the Russian naval base at the Syrian Mediterranean port of Tartus, the moment the US attack on his country begins. A Gazelle helicopter stands ready to fly over Lebanon to Tartus at an estate in Yaafur, 12 minutes drive from central Damascus. The estate is owned jointly by him and his brother Maher Assad.  Assad plans to to be flown the 150 kilometers to the sea port through Lebanese skies with Hizballah ground support, A–Nahar reports, so that if the helicopter is shot down, he will land among friends.