Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The Syrian opposition has reported the death of President
Bashar Assad’s brother, assigned to quell the Sunni revolt.

The opposition said Maher Assad died of injuries sustained in a July 18
bombing of National Security Agency headquarters in Damascus. Opposition
sources said Maher was critically injured in the attack and lost both of his
legs.

“It is with 100 percent certainty that the brother of President Bashar
Assad, Maher Assad, was transferred to Damascus after his death,” Syrian National Council member Mohammed Al Hamza said.

The sources said Maher was believed to have been flown to Moscow for emergency surgery. They said the younger Assad, who commanded the Syrian Army’s 4th Division, died in Russia and his body was returned to Syria in mid-August.

On Aug. 15, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted as saying that Maher lost both of his legs in the July 18 attack and was in critical condition. Later, the Russia Foreign Ministry denied the statement.

“Since the bombing in Damascus and the absence of Maher, the military and security situation is rapidly and dangerously deteriorating,” Bogdanov was quoted by the Saudi daily Al Watan.

On Aug. 20, the Assad regime denied a report from Moscow that a “senior
Syrian military commander” died. The official Syrian Arab News Agency did
not identify the purported commander, said by the opposition to be Maher.

“The Information Ministry said that the news broadcast by websites and
media outlets on the death of a military personality in Syria are baseless,”
Sana said. “The ministry added that such news are part of a desperate
psychological warfare intended to undermine the steadfastness of the Syrian
people.”

The purported death of Maher leaves the president alone among family
members that headed the Damascus regime. Assad’s brother-in-law, Assaf
Chawkat, responsible for the security services, also died in the July 18
bombing.

  Assaf Chawkat, Bashar Assad, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Foreign Ministry, Sunni revolt, Syrian Army’s 4th Division, Syrian National Council, Syrian opposition: Maher Assad died of injuries suffered in July 18 attack