Those of us who were up watching it all night on the live thread can answer that for you: YES, he DID think it was safe.
It was scary the way all the news channels immediately turned on the coalition - and this fully includes Fox News - the moment some of their Precious Own took a hit. (Only when the morning stafsf came in and took over did the hatefests cease.) They do mostly believe that they are capital-G Gods.
It seems to me that the last place I would want to be is on the balcony of a multi-story building, during a pitched battle, looking down on a tank taking sniper fire. I would get the frick off the balcony and take cover. But that's just me.