Syrian rebels prevent Assad's wife from escaping
So much for that report that Bashar al-Assad's wife and kids are in London. Asma al-Assad and her kids are in Syria, and they were recently prevented from leaving by Syrian rebels. Sources within the Syrian opposition said that the Free Syrian Army forces managed to prevent the escape of the first lady of Syria and additional relatives through Damascus airport.
According to the Egyptian daily, the sources claimed that Asma Assad, her children, Bashar Assad's mother and his cousin were all in a convoy on the way to the airport when rebel forces under the command of a former senior officer in the Syrian army, blocked the their path.
After heavy exchanges of fire, the presidential security forces managed to get the convoy back to the presidential palace. The opposition sources alleged that Assad's security forces pursued the deserter general, Mahmoud Halouf, former head of the Palestine branch of Syrian intelligence.
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The general's unit, all former soldiers who deserted with him, 300 in total, said that when they saw the convoy the believed it was an attempt to smuggle senior officials out of the country – which is why they blocked the convoy's path.
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If the report about Asma Assad's attempted escape is true, it would not be the first time during the Arab Spring that relatives of a failing ruler find a way to escape. Last August Muammar Gaddafi's wife and three of his children managed to escape war-torn Libya and reach Algeria. Gaddafi was killed not long after.
Labels: Asma al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad, Syrian uprising
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:23 AM
2 Comments:
Maybe Vogue could organise a rescue attempt!!
The prevention of Assad's family from leaving Syria was an unfortunate action with strategic consequences in this Syrian Civil War. Letting them leave Syria gives Assad enormous incentive to join them and live elsewhere, with he and his family enjoying their stolen billions.
With his family effectively trapped in Syria, Assad's only incentive now is to "double-down" on regime violence, purely for survival.
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