Defections, security officials' death deal severe blow to Assad regime
A bombing this month, followed by high-level defections, indicates that the Syrian regime is cracking from within.
By Alakbar Raufoglu for SES Türkiye -- 07/24/12
The killing of high-ranking regime officials this month, followed by high-level defections, indicates that the Syrian regime is coming under increasing pressure from within, analysts said.
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![Members of the Free Syrian Army target government forces in Azzaz, Aleppo province. [Reuters]](/shared/images/2012/07/24/ALAKBARphoto-310_213.jpg)
Members of the Free Syrian Army target government forces in Azzaz, Aleppo province. [Reuters]
![Members of the Free Syrian Army target government forces in Azzaz, Aleppo province. [Reuters]](/shared/images/2012/07/24/ALAKBARphoto-800_550.jpg)
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The Syrian regime suffered a significant setback last week after opposition fighters struck a major blow to the heart of the regime in a bomb attack in Damascus on Wednesday (July 18th), followed by military advances in Damascus and Aleppo.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) took control of one Iraqi border gate and three on the Turkish border, including Bab al-Hawa across from the Cilvegozu gate in Hatay. Regime troops battled FSA fighters in Aleppo and in several Damascus neighborhoods.
On Sunday, the Arab League stepped up pressure, calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and urging the FSA to form a transitional national unity government.
The bombing of the National Security headquarters killed Assef Shawkat, Assad's brother-in-law and deputy defense minister; Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha; General Hassan Turkmani, head of the regime's crisis cell and assistant to the vice president; and national security chief Hisham Ikhtiar. Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar was wounded.
The attack follows a wave of recent high-level defections, including a senior Republican Guard commander and Syria's ambassador to Iraq.
"Mass bombings … will surely bring more defections and mistrust, as they create shocks for the ruling al-Assad family," Salih Akyurek, a retired Turkish colonel and security analyst at the Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies in Ankara, told SES Türkiye.
Turkey and the Syrian side of the border have become home to thousands of rebel army fighters, composed of defected soldiers and civilians, who have taken control of large pockets of territory inside Syria. More than 100 high-level military officials have defected to Turkey, including 24 generals, according to Reuters. More than 43,000 Syrians are living in Turkish refugee camps.
The military in Syria is a critical institution of the state, and senior military officers who are risking their lives by defecting will want to be part of the new system, analysts said.
"The generals don't simply leave al-Assad for a cozy life. They want to stand with the [rebel army] and be at the center of the struggle. They see Turkey as a real center of the Syrian uprising," Veysel Ayhan, chairman of the Ankara-based International Middle East Peace Research Centre, told SES Türkiye.
Before defecting, officers co-ordinate with the army and the Syrian National Council, "who help them smuggle their families across the border to Turkey," said Edward Dark, an Aleppo-based Syrian activist and editor of the website Syrialeaks.
"These defections are significant because they show that the regime can no longer rely on the army to repress the population, more and more officers are refusing to carry out orders, and plan to defect," Dark told SES Türkiye. "The defectors still have influence and contacts back home in the regime army, as well as helping the FSA with experience, advice and command."
One indicator of the stress facing Assad's inner circle is the recent defection of General Manag Tlass, a commander of a Revolutionary Guard unit and son of former Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass, who after escaping to Turkey has surfaced in Paris.
What do you think of this article? (Total Votes )
14 Like(s)
6 Dislike(s)
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For some reason, all newspapers and Tv channels except a few of them make reports as if Turkey is on the opposition’s side. However, they do not consider that a large part of Turkish people have a great love and spiritual support for Bashar Assad. I and my friends do not want Bashar Assad’s courage and his stand against the US to be underestimated. We do not want the media organizations in Turkey to show things as if people are against Assad. We love Bashar Assad. We should be the one to help him in his difficult days as his closest neighbor. Isn’t this one of the pillars of Islam? Do not forget that even in the smallest of matters one neighbor can help another. Just like we do not want separatists in our country, the same is true for Syria. The current insurgents are trying to divide the country. A coalition of the US and Israel are providing arms, food and ammunition to the opposition in order to overthrow Assad. I believe Turkey is included in that coalition, too. Our prime minister knows it very well that there is an undeniable support for Assad in Turkey, which can lead to serious issues in terms of a possible tension, and he does not want to have the same destiny with Syria. So instead of directly attacking Syria, he is trying to overthrow Assad by secretly providing support to the opposition, just like the US and Israel does. But I do not believe that they can overthrow Assad. Best regards and good night to everyone.
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Enough! Isn’t there anyone to say “stop” to this?
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Turkey should have taken a tougher stance. It is constantly being slapped in the face. Turkey has lost its deterrent power in the region.
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The state has collapsed in Syria and bandits crowded everywhere. Nobody’s life, goods, honour is in safe. It’s no longer livable. May Allah save Turkey. In Turkey too, all military officers, commanders are in prison. There is nobody who can fight in the army.
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erdoğan ın maksadı suriyede demokrasi değil kürtlerin haklarını engellemektir ezilen kürt halkı elbet onun gibi zalimlerin zulmünden kurtulacaktır allahın izniyle özgürleşeceğiz
Erdoğan’s aim is indeed not ‘the democracy in Syria’, instead to prevent the rights of Kurds. Oppressed Kurdish people will of course get rid of the oppression of tyrants like him. We’ll become free with Allah’s permission.
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Anonymous: What are you saying nonsense? You mix three seperate issues together and make people distress unnecessarily. Turkey is in a situation more astute and conscious than ever. Syria is fighting for its life. Kurds have been our brothers for 1000 years and will continue to be like that. Small problems may occur at any time. Be cool.
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Yes, you’re right. Erdogan’s aim is not give the right but everybody should remember that the only one who gives the right is Allah.
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