General Idriss dismissed as SMC Leader, U.S and Turkish Intelligence behind: source

The Supreme Military Council has dismissed General Salim Idriss and his deputy.

Idriss, who defected from the Syrian Army in July 2012 and was elected head of the SMC five months later, has been succeeded by Brigadier Abdel-Ilah al-Bashir.

Al-Bashir is head of the Quneitra Military Council, which has been prominent in a current insurgent offensive in southern Syria. His deputy, Colonel Heitham Afeisi, is a leading member of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front, according to EA.

Zaman Alwasl source revealed that Interim Defence Minister, who retracted his resignation due to Turkish and American pressure, was behind Idriss dismissal.

Dr. Asaad Mustafa’s disputes with Idriss have been escalated over leading and funding the rebel groups on the ground, especially the moderate ones and whose operate under Free Syrian Army (FSA).

The source assured that Idriss ousting was the main outcome of Mustafa’s closed meeting with Turkish and American intelligence, that took place in the Turkish border city, Gaziantep, until the early morning hours of Saturday.

An SMC spokesperson said Idriss was fired because of his “weak leadership and his wish to restructure” and a desire to “rebuild the institution with new leaders,” EA reported

“Idriss to end his visit to Dubai and return to Turkey,” Journalist and cyber activist, Zaid Benjamin said in his Twitter account according to his source. He added that 5 rebel commanders still consider Idriss as SMC leader.

Meanwhile the Syrian death toll rose to 140,000 people, over 7,000 of them children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.

Syria's nearly three-year conflict began as popular protests against four decades of Assad family rule but changed into armed insurgency under a security force crackdown.