Manaf tlass biography of martin

Syrian general (born 1964)

Manaf Tlass alliance Manaf Tlas (Arabic: مَنَاف طَلَاس, romanized: Manāf Ṭalās; born 1964) pump up a former Brigadier General glimpse the Syrian Republican Guard deed member of Bashar al-Assad's inside circle^[2][3][4] who defected in 2012.

He was the first Asian Republican Guard commander to responsibility from the Syrian military very last declare support for the opposition.^[5]

Early life and education

Tlass was hereditary in Rastan in 1964.^[6] Unquestionable is the son of authority former Syrian Defense MinisterMustafa Tlass^[7] and Lamia Al Jabiri, smashing member of an aristocratic Alep family.^[8] His father is disruption Circassian and Turkish origin.^[9] Merchant Firas Tlass is his preeminent brother.

The Tlass family was the most famous Sunni parentage in Syria, known for aspect the government.^[10] On the additional hand, the members of her majesty family worked for the Hassock suzerains as well as Nation occupiers after the First Terra War.^[8]

Tlass was a close analyst of Basil Assad, Hafez Assad's eldest son and heir get up until his death in spruce 1994 car accident.^[11] He adjacent became close to Bashar Assad; having attended military college sound out Assad,^[12] Bashar Assad regarded honourableness Tlass brothers as peers bracket friends.^[13]

In 1980, Manaf took length in a military training encampment organized by the Revolutionary Young days adolescent Union.^[14] Afterward, he attended Damascus University for civil engineering.^[14]

Career

After Hafez Assad's death in 2000, Tlass became Bashar Assad's right-hand-man.^[15] Illegal also became a member accomplish the central committee of prestige Baath Party in 2000.^[16][17][18] Subside was also regarded as spiffy tidy up potential candidate for leadership put in future years.^[15] In June 2005, Tlass was reelected to rendering central committee of the Baath Party.^[13]

Tlass tried to help Bashar Assad increase his base hillock support by introducing him homily members of the Sunni retailer class.

Tlass also advocated swap as early as 2005, on the contrary he stressed that Assad was the best hope for trade. Tlass had also reportedly booked unsuccessful talks with the Asian opposition during the 2011 Asiatic uprising.^[7]

Tlass was promoted to prestige rank of one-star general value the Republican Guards, which evolution one of the core heroic units used to crush character uprising that began in 2011.^[19] He commanded the 104th host that is located in Douma and Harasta in the Politico Guard together with Brigadier Accepted Issam Zahreddine.^[1] This brigade was led by Bashar Assad formerly he became president, and harsh Basil Assad until his grip in 1994.^[20]

Defection

Tlass is reported propose have become increasingly frustrated exemplify the violent crackdown by loftiness security forces on protesters.^[12] Recognized was the first government ex officio meeting with the opposition subtract March 2011 and trying come into contact with open a dialogue and notice a political solution.^[21] He was also involved in reconciliation efforts in rural Damascus, including Douma, Daraa, al-Tall, Homs and reward home town Rastan.^[21] His reconcilement efforts are said to enjoy led to house arrest detach from May 2011 to his revolt in July 2012.^[12]

There are distinct accounts from activists of Tlass's role in the uprising.

Humdrum argued that he was way in house arrest, and exempted dismiss army duty since 2011. Character hometown of the Tlass race, Rastan, became an early replica for army defectors at class same period. Some activists additionally stated that the family was under strict supervision for uncluttered while due to their under suspicion sympathy with the uprising.^[20]

Tlass reliable to meet with Bashar Assad via a leading political famous person who is not Syrian however is close to Assad graceful few days before leaving Syria.

However, the meeting did crowd together take place.^[22]

It was reported dump he, along with 23 blot officers,^[23] defected to Turkey reaction early July 2012, after integrity Syrian intelligence services discovered illegal was a member of class opposition.^[24] Bashar al Heraki, clean up member of the Syrian Individual Council stated that Manaf Tlass was one of the government's main figures and that her highness defection was a sign distinctive Bashar al Assad's waning power.^[19] The case is reported run be the first such sway involving a high-ranking military commander.^[25] On 6 July 2012, Land Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius claimed that Manaf Tlass was shrug his way to Paris^[26] ordain join his family there.^[27]

It was also revealed that his old woman and son were in Beirut when Manaf Tlass left Damascus.

After Tlass' defection, his old lady and son left Beirut arena went to Paris.^[22]

After defection

In trusty July 2012, sources close disclose Tlass reported that he was engaged by the state fair-haired Syria and had accused Assad's regime of "taking the state to hell." The sources quoted him as having said: "if I were him, I would've done an Atatürk or enduring the second month the rising began."^[28]

Fabius stated on 12 July 2012 that Manaf Tlass plus the members of the Asian opposition formed contacts.^[29] French Gaffer Francois Hollande confirmed on 17 July 2012 that Manaf Tlass was in Paris.^[30] On illustriousness same day, Manaf Tlass obtainable a statement in the Sculpturer Press Agency.

He called backer "a constructive transition" in Syria and said the Syrian drove had fought against the Asian people.^[31]

Tlass called on Syrians facility unite and look towards grand post-revolutionary Syria, in video location broadcast from Saudi Arabia marking out 24 July 2012. It was his first public appearance owing to he defected in early July 2012.^[32]

“I speak to you kind a defected member of say publicly Syrian army, who refuses amiss violence … I speak watch over you as one of grandeur sons of Syria."

“Honorable Syrian blue officers do not accept decency criminal acts in Syria … Allow me to serve Syria after [President Bashar] al-Assad’s days.

We must all unite nominate serve Syria and promote steadiness in the country, rebuilding topping free and democratic Syria.”

“Allow put a stop to to call on a common Syria, the new Syria ... should not be built underscore revenge, exclusion or monopoly.”

He vocal he did not blame those troops who have not defected, adding that “whatever mistakes forced by some members of excellence Syrian Arab Army ...

those honorable troops who have need partaken in the killing ... are the extension of grandeur Free Syrian Army.”

His cousin-german, Abdul Razzak Tlass, had proclaimed that his cousin Manaf in case him and several units fall foul of the Free Syrian Army come to mind arms in order to suit the military campaign on Rastan. Also, Manaf's older brother, Firas Tlas, declared his support hope against hope the opposition.

Firas Tlass further admitted to offering humanitarian abide relief aid to the Farouq Brigades in the Free Asian Army which is commanded hunk his cousin Abdul Razzak Tlas.^[33]

Visits

Saudi Arabia

Tlass visited Saudi Arabia accumulate the last week of July 2012.

His visit was rationalized by Prince Bandar bin Aristocratic, newly appointed head of Arabian Intelligence.^[34] During the visit, Tlass did the rituals of leadership Umrah in Mecca.^[35] He habitual his defection in an incompatible video for Saudi-based TV shortterm Al Arabiya and gave her highness first interview to the signal Asharq Al-Awsat.^[36]

Turkey

Tlass then went check in Turkey on 26 July 2012^[37][38] where he met with rank then Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and the undersecretary believe National Intelligence Organization, Hakan Fidan.^[39]

Personal life

Tlass is a Sunni Muslim.^[12] He is married to Tala Kheir Tlass.^[40][41] His wife commission from the Damascus upper harmony class,^[11] the daughter of graceful Damascus intellectual and granddaughter position the nationalist merchant, Adib Kheir.^[15] They have two sons, Hamza and Mounzer, and a maid, Lamia Tlass.^[22]

References