Anyone Else Heard This?

[The Reaper]

Unverified internet rumor.

TR

http://www.free-lebanon.com/

DAMASCUS REBELLION UPDATE:

No newspapers are getting in or out of Syria, the media is controlled very tight, and the Syrian scene witnessed a dramatic, security deterioration the last 24 hours.

Precise Intelligence reports coming from Syria indicated massive army troops deployment around the capital Damascus. Most of the military Barracks of the Syrian Army around Damascus gave allegiance to the dissidents: Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan and General Ali Safi. These people in the Syrian Army were against the withdrawal from Lebanon.

It is known that President Bashar Assad is in the city of Alleppo, assessing the internal situation within Syria and trying to organize a "forced" return to Damascus.

We will provide you with additional details as soon as we have them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[NOTE: The Syrian military General backing Ghazi Kanaan’s movement is General Ali Safi and not Madi as originally reported by error. The Lebanese Foundation for Peace apologizes for this error of publishing.]

The Intelligence Hour for Syria and Lebanon
Special Flash: Damascus, Syria

A Coup d' Etat took place in Damascus late last night. Intelligence reports coming from within the Syrian Military Command indicate the following:

A rebellion split The Syrian Army in two factions.

Since yesterday , Damascus is under the de facto control of the Syrian Army, under the command of Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan, and supported by Syrian Intelligence General Rustom Ghazaleh, Syrian military General Ali Safi, and Firas Tlass son of former Minister of Defence, Mustafa Tlass. The group rebelled against the decision of President Bashar el Assad to withdraw from Lebanon and seized the Damascus military yesterday.

Around 3 am, Damascus time, the Syrian Air Force bombarded two military airfields around Damascus, the Air force base of Dumair, and the Air force base of Katana. Also, late night around 3 am, the Syrian Air force bombarded military positions of the Syrian Army west of the city of Homs.

President Bachar el Assad retreated secretly to the city of Aleppo where he is temporarily holding ground. He is massing special forces troops loyal to him and preparing himself to take back Damascus by force .

The Syrian President left in Damascus his brother in Law, Syrian Military Intelligence Chief General Assef Shawkat to negotiate a settlement with the dissidents. The situation within the Syrian military was very tense for a week and exploded yesterday. The dissident group took control of Damascus as they were very upset at the Lebanon withdrawal for they left behind a billion dollar industry.


BEIRUT, LEBANON
• The Hariri Assassination:

The same Syrian Intelligence sources indicate that Rafic Hariri was assassinated by the SSNP (the Syrian Social National Party) under the direct orders of Asaad Hardane. Hardane's men were deeply involved in this operation and were supported technically in the assassination by the Security Department of Hezbollah who provided the "special explosives from Iran" for this operation.

President Bachar Assad himself ordered the assassination. Syrian Generals Assef Shawkat and Rustom Ghazaleh were aware of Hariri's killing. They, along with a few other Syrian Intelligence officers, were secretly coordinating the cover up of this crime with Hezbollah and the SSNP for the success of the operation and the Lebanese authorities.

• Sunni MP Ahmed Fatfat, from the city of Tripoli, northern Lebanon, was beaten by pro-Syrian militiamen belonging to the Baath Party and the SSNP. They burned his two cars in Tripoli and Fatfat. He took his family and moved secretly to the Christian areas in an undisclosed location for his safety.


• Former Minister of Interior, Elie El Murr moved secretly to Europe. He left days ago to Switzerland as he intends to stay. It was reported that he moved discreetly with important financial assets from Lebanon to that country.


• It was reported that most of the Prime Minster Rafic Hariri's Family have left Lebanon overseas for security reasons. Nazek, the widow of the assassinated former Prime Minister Hariri is the only person left in Beirut. Three of his children are reported to be in Saudi Arabia and two in France.

[JMH85]

It’s news to me TR. The big Middle East topic I heard today was that the "275-member assembly was sworn in as about half a dozen explosions rattled the area around the convention center where members met."

CNN Link (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/16/iraq.main/index.html)

Nothing new about Syria that I have heard. I checked CNN's website for news reports on the past few days and the only Syria related articles are:

Syria gives timeline for pullout (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/13/lebanon.pm/index.html) March 13, 2005

And

Syria troops 'to stay until April' (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/13/lebanon.troops.ap/index.html) March 13, 2005

I'm still trying to hunt it down though. I'll get back later if I find anything. It's very interesting.

JMH85

[CPTAUSRET]

Any more on this, anybody??

[ghostinashell]

I don't see any information on a possible coup but I found an article stating that Syria has completed its first phase of the withdrawl.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4357105.stm

[ccrn]

Ive searched and havent been able to find anything so far...


I find it a fascinating prospect-

[jbour13]

I have yet to see any indicators a coup has taken place or will. Assad is going to be hounded by this kind of propaganda from both sides for alot of reasons. Some Lebanese want a democracy as TR's link shows with all the feel good pics. But there are those in the Syrian government that are probably pushing arms and money to Lebanese (Pro-Syrian) fighters to draw Israel into the conflict.

These are the same people that are trying to prove that Assad is a weak leader. I think it's still possible for a coup attempt, but only after it's proven that pulling out has been a big mistake. Israel would have to respond hastily and push troops almost all the way to the Bekaa Valley to prove that it was.

Without popular support and an enemy to face the Lebanese are going to be sitting on their hands. They could still build up a resistance force and fill the void and bring the fight to the Israeli's doorstep.

I guess a more propagandized civil war is coming again to that theater.

[Airbornelawyer]

Not much reliability or credibility.

The statements have been denied by people actually in Damascus.

The source - Lebanese Foundation for Peace - is affiliated with the Phalange, Lebanon's Christian Fascist movement, most of whose leadership is in exile.

Still, it would make for an interesting story. There are a lot of Syrians who have profited mightily from the occupation of Lebanon (as well as a lot of Lebanese), and powerful people like Gen. Kanaan do view Lebanon as their personal fiefdom.

[The Reaper]

The link and originator of the story appear to be some sort of pro-Israeli group.

Doesn't mean it isn't true, just to let you know where it is coming from.

TR

[jbour13]

Sorry folks, I tend to state the obvious. I'm an analyst (96B) and this is what pays the bills.