Assad's Inner Alawite Circle Is What Remains Of His Government

Assad’s Inner Circle Seen As Intact Despite Defection Of Syrian Prime Minister -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — Syrian President Bashar Assad’s administration struck a defiant tone Monday, renewing its counterattack on rebel forces in the country’s largest cities and vowing to stay in place, despite the defection of the country’s prime minister.

The defection of Prime Minister Riad Hijab to Jordan was the highest-profile departure from Assad’s government so far, but analysts said it was unlikely to indicate a fatal fissure in his inner circle. Hijab, who’d been appointed just two months ago, is a Sunni Muslim, while Assad’s most ironclad allies are fellow members of his minority Alawite sect. Assad appointed a successor within hours.

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My Comment: The last important Sunni official in the Syrian government is now gone with the defection of Prime Minister Riad Hijab to Jordan .... and as the Syrian sectarian conflict continues to grow, I expect the last Christians, Druze, and Kurd supporters to disappear also.