I would hope that there is no moral equivalence between you and Bashar.
Given that we’re talking survival here, I suspect I have the same motivations Assad would: not getting my family killed and dying a horrible death myself.
“Safe Zones” would inevitably become sanctuaries for Assad’s enemies. He can’t allow them.
If the refugees want to be ‘safe’ from Assad, they need to submit and take his side.
Assad may be a bastard but he has a better humanitarian record than his enemies.