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Free Syrian Army: Defections from Syrian Army on the Rise

(Asharq Al-Awsat-UK) Yousef Diab - Defections from the Syrian army and other security forces is on the rise, leading to an increase in the frequency of armed clashes between Syrian security forces and defectors in a number of Syrian provinces, particularly the Idlib Governorate, which borders Turkey. Observers have been surprised by the recent defection of a large number of elements from the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate, previously considered one of the units most loyal to the Syrian regime. A Free Syrian Army source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Syrian army soldiers are now aware that the al-Assad regime's claims that they are fighting "terrorists" or "foreign elements" are completely untrue. He also claimed that more than 1,100 Syrian army officers have been imprisoned by the regime, and some have been executed. The source said that Syrian security elements and the Shabiha [militia] have begun to refuse to patrol the country in ordinary cars for fear of their lives, and they have been provided with armored vehicles.
2011-12-12 00:00:00
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