Assad sacks cousin and first aide, Hafez Makhlouf: activists

 (Zaman Al Wasl)- Activists on Tuesday have circulated news saying Bashar al-Assad has dismissed his cousin and first aide, General Brigadier Hafez Makhlouf, from his post as head of interior security.

Makhlouf has been vulnerable to rumors. Days ago, social media pages said Makhlouf had absconded.

Some activists say, it's hard to believe until the state-run media assure Makhlouf's dismissal.

Also on July 18, 2012, Sources claimed that Makhlouf had been killed in an explosion targeted top regime officials, including Defence ministry, Dawoud Rajha, and his deputy, Assad’s cousin Asif Shaukat in Damascus.