Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Top Israeli Commander: Syrian President Assad Could Survive For Years

Photo: Major General Yair Golan - the head of the Home Front Command (Israel). Wikipedia

Israeli General Says Assad Could Survive In Syria For Years -- Reuters

* Assad's forces have suffered 15,000 fatalities - general
* But Syrian leader predicted to weather deadlock with rebels

JERUSALEM, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could cling to power for years despite having lost overall control of his country, according to Israel's top commander on the frontier with Syria.

Major-General Yair Golan's remarks, published on Wednesday in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, reflected debate in Israel over Assad's fate, 2-1/2 years into Syria's civil war, after a U.S.-Russian agreement to force him to give up his chemical weapons.

"He will stay on for years. I don't see any force toppling him tomorrow morning - though he deserves to pass from this world, and the quicker that happens, the better," Golan said.

Read more ....

Update #1: Bashar al-Assad will remain in power 'for years', top Israeli commander says -- The Telegraph
Update #2: Israeli commander predicts that Assad will last for years -- L.A. Times

My Comment: This assessment is becoming the consensus among many Syrian watchers and pundits. The big fear is that the Syrian civil war may drag in Israel.

Update #3: In enemy care: Syrians treated in Israeli hospitals -- France24

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