[MinorityRepublican]

Agents working for the Russian government convinced Assad to leave the country immediately after it became clear he would lose a fight with the rebels, the Kremlin sources said.

Assad was probably planning on having his army fight in the Capital. He didn't expect them to collapse so quickly the way they did.

[Paul R.]

I can’t find the vid now - there’s an account related by a english speaking friend of a Syrian Colonel in which the Col. describes electronic jamming, communications cuts, and possible collusion by some Syrian commanders with the rebels. The attacks from the South (Druze, I believe) also seemed to greatly shock him.