The regime of President Bashar Assad has come under severe strain over the decision to pull back forces from
Lebanon and, according to an unconfirmed report, Assad has fled Damascus to regroup in Aleppo.
Lebanese opposition sources said the Assad regime has been divided over
the decision to withdraw thousands of troops from Lebanon. The sources said
some elements of the military have refused to follow orders for the pullout
of troops as well as intelligence agents from both central Lebanon and the
eastern Bekaa Valley.
Syria's military increased deployment around Damascus
due to tension within the regime. The opposition Lebanese
Foundation for Peace said the Syrian military
has undergone a split, with a rebel faction having taken control over parts
of the capital, Middle East Newsline reported.
The rebel faction was said to be led by Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi
Kanaan and Firas Tlas, the son of former Defense Minister Mustapha Tlas. The
sources said this group, which included Syrian intelligence chief in
Lebanon, Maj. Gen. Rustom Ghazaleh and Maj. Gen. Ali Madi, has rebelled
against Assad's decision to withdraw from Lebanon.
"Around 3 a.m. [Wednesday], Damascus time, the Syrian Air Force
bombarded two military airfields around Damascus, the air force base of
Dumair, and the air force base of Katana," the opposition Lebanese
Foundation for Peace said. "Also, late night around 3 a.m., the Syrian Air
Force bombarded military positions of the Syrian Army west of the city of
Homs."
There was no confirmation of this report. There were no unusual military
movements reported in Damascus on Thursday.
The foundation said Assad has fled to Aleppo and amassed a force of
loyalists in an attempt to regain control of Damascus. Assad was said to
have left Damascus with Syrian military intelligence chief Gen. Assaf
Chawkat, the president's brother-in-law.
"The dissident group took control of Damascus as they were very upset at
the Lebanon withdrawal, for they left behind a billion dollar industry," the
foundation said.
Over the last day, Syrian intelligence officers left their Beirut
headquarters and Lebanese forces moved in. On Thursday, Lebanese sources
said Damascus completed the first stage of its withdrawal from Lebanon and
redeployed 8,000 troops and military intelligence personnel to the Bekaa
Valley and Syria. The sources said Syria has removed its military presence
from central and northern Lebanon.
"There's a lot of movement going on in Lebanon," U.S. State Department
deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said on Wednesday. "I would say there's a
certain lack of clarity, which we continue to look for from the government
of Syria. The lack of clarity is where are they going and when will they
leave and will it be all of them."
