Syrian Defector Claims Assad's Army Is Falling Apart

The Syrian regime is supported by an Alawite minority, but rely upon Sunnis to provide most personnel for its army.

And the Sunnis are deserting.

In his first full-length newspaper interview, General Mustafa al-Sheikh, who has taken refuge in Turkey, gave an apocalyptic insider’s view of the state of the regime – despite its attempt to reassert control this weekend.

He said only a third of the army was at combat readiness due to defections or absenteeism, while remaining troops were demoralised, most of its Sunni officers had fled, been arrested, or sidelined, and its equipment was degraded…

“The army will collapse during February,” he said. “The reasons are the shortage of Syrian army personnel, which even before March 15 last year did not exceed 65 per cent. The proportion of equipment that was combat ready did not exceed that, due to a shortage of spare parts.

He claims the real strength of the Syrian army is down to 32% of its paper strength.

posted by Ace at 03:03 PM

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