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Is Defection of Syrian General Part of Russian Plan?

There are reports that a high-ranking Syrian Alawite officer, Gen. Ali Habib, has left the country, leaving some thinking this could be part of a Russian plan to reach a solution to the conflict.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) waves as he arrives with Syrian Defense Minister General Ali Habib (C) and Chief of Staff General Dawoud Rajha to attend a dinner to honour army officers on the 65th Army Foundation anniversary in Damascus August 1, 2010. REUTERS/Sana (SYRIA - Tags: ANNIVERSARY POLITICS MILITARY) - RTR2GZ1H
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad waves as he arrives with then-Syrian Defense Minister Ali Habib (C) and Chief of Staff Dawoud Rajha in Damascus, Aug. 1, 2010. There are reports that Habib has left the country. — REUTERS/Sana

Did the Ghouta chemical attacks serve as the opportunity that had been sought for more than two years to conclude an American-Russian agreement, ensuring a peaceful transfer of power in Syria? What does this have to do with the reports disseminated in the past two weeks about one of the most prominent Alawite army officers traveling outside Syria?

A Lebanese official closely observing American-Saudi communications concerning Syria explained to Al-Monitor that Washington had been thinking of an agreement process, to be implemented over several stages, ever since the Syrian crisis escalated and was transformed into a bloody war of attrition with no solution.

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