Posted on 05/12/2015 1:47:38 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Assad regime has placed its intelligence chief under house arrest after suspecting he was plotting a coup, in a sign that battlefield losses are setting off increasing paranoia in Damascus.
Ali Mamlouk, the head of the country's National Security Bureau, and one of the few officials still to have access to President Bashar al-Assad, was accused of holding secret talks with countries backing rebel groups and exiled members of the Syrian regime.
Mr Assad is struggling to keep together the regime’s "inner circle", who are increasingly turning on each other, sources inside the presidential palace have told The Telegraph.
Even before Mamlouk’s arrest, the web of intelligence agencies with which the regime has enforced its authority for four decades was in turmoil, with two other leaders killed or removed.
Last month, Rustum Ghazaleh, the head of the Political Security Directorate, died in hospital after he was physically attacked by men loyal to General Rafiq Shehadeh, his opposite number in military intelligence, who was in turn sacked.
The role being played in the war by Iran, Syria's regional ally, is said to be at the heart of the arguments, with some of the “inner circle” afraid that Iranian officials now have more power than they do.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The Iranians are getting Assad to purge people they don't like, or if he won't, they do it themselves.
House arrest reports add to mystery surrounding fate of Syrian security chief
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/11/house-arrest-report-syrian-security-chief-ali-mamlouk-hospital-turkish-intelligence-assad
Israel prepares for a post-Assad phase in neighboring Syria
http://aranews.net/2015/05/israel-prepares-for-a-post-assad-phase-in-neighboring-syria/
What does Erdogan’s Iran visit tell us?
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/what-does-erdogans-iran-visit-tell-us.aspx?pageID=449&nID=80773&NewsCatID=416
Injured Syrians find treatment in Israel
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/11/middleeast/israel-hospital-treatment-for-syrians/index.html
Turkey hosts Nato guests after months of anti-western barbs
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/16baa0ee-f7bc-11e4-9beb-00144feab7de.html
Kenan Evren, 97, Dies; After Coup, Led Turkey With Iron Hand
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/world/europe/kenan-evren-dies-at-97-led-turkeys-1980-coup.html?_r=0
Turkey, South Africa among victims of stronger dollar — Moodys
http://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/1794174/turkey-south-africa-among-victims-stronger-dollar-moodys
Play with mullah fire, get burned by mullah fire.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
The new national anthem for Syria is the theme from Jeopardy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.