Syrian army general defects to ‘rebels’ amid escalating violence in country

March 17, 2013 | World News | Written by

London, Mar 17: A Syrian army general has reportedly defected to the opposition, saying that morale in the army had collapsed.

The man identified by opposition activists as General Mohammed Ezz al-Din Khalouf announced his defection in a video shown on al-Arabiya TV.

According to the BBC, General Khalouf, identified variously as a brigadier-general and a major-general, was shown sitting beside his son, said to be an army captain.

Seif al-Hourani, an activist from a rebel group which reportedly helped the man and his family flee from the country, told an international news agency via Skype that the escape had been planned for months.

Six days ago, rebels smuggled the general, his wife, and three of their children out of Damascus and they crossed into Jordan on Friday.

According to reports, if confirmed, it would be one of the most senior defections since the start of the conflict. (ANI)