Syrian regime President Bashar al-Assad has recalled Talal Tlass, retired military officer to lead again his former post as Deputy Minister of Defense, sources said.
The move come over Russian recommendation, according to Zaman al-Wasl sources, as Assad’s key ally seeks to oust corrupt Generals, including the Defense Minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij.
Tlass, 65, the Sunni officer who was dismissed late of 2016 over his criticism to the military campaign on eastern Aleppo, seems to be the next Defense minister of Syria.
Assad has also extended the military duty of Jamil al-Hassan, his close advisor for another year, delaying the retirement the head of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate for the seventh time, sources told Ammar Johmani.
Maj Gen al-Hassan, 64, was sanctioned by the European Union on 9 May 2011 over his war crimes against the Syrian people since the revolution erupted seven years ago. On 29 June 2011, the United States also sanctioned him due to his involvement in human rights abuses in Syria.
Although Bashar al-Assad inherited Syria's presidency on his father's death in 2000, analysts told BBC that he does not have Hafez al-Assad's absolute grip on power. He is surrounded by military and intelligence figures, most of whom are either related to the president or are members of his minority Alawite community.
