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Riad al-Asaad
Riad Mousa al-As'aad (Arabic: رياض موسى الأسعد, pronounced [riˈjɑːdˤ ˈmuːsa lˈʔæsʕæd]; born 2 February 1961) is a Syrian military officer and politician who is the founding leader of the Free Syrian Army. One of the prominent faces of the Syrian civil war, he led the armed resistance to the Assad regime as commander-in-chief of FSA, during the early phase of the Syrian Civil War. Under Riad al-Asaad's command, FSA expanded into a paramilitary force of 75,000 guerilla fighters and insurgents in March 2012; capable of ousting regime forces from Damascus. He currently serves as the deputy prime minister for Military Affairs of the Syrian Salvation Government, a position he has held since 2 November 2017. He was a former colonel in the Syrian Air Force who defected to the opposition in July 2011 and became the first Acting Commander-in-chief of the Free Syrian Army.
Some of his family members were executed by the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Following the outbreak of violence in Syria in March 2011, Colonel Riad al-Asaad announced his defection from the Syrian Air Force on 4 July 2011. He initially joined the Free Officers Movement after this defection.
On 29 July 2011, al-Asaad along with other defectors declared the establishment of the Free Syrian Army, with the intention of fighting an insurgent war to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad. Colonel Asaad opposed any exile solution for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and seeks for fighting until his government is overthrown.
On 22 September 2012, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) announced that it had moved its command centre from Turkey to liberated areas inside Syria. Alongside other military commanders of the FSA, Riad al-Asaad also hinted plans for initiating an offensive on Damascus, stating:
"To the Syrian people, its freedom fighters and all the armed factions, we are glad to let you know that the leadership of the FSA has moved into Syria following arrangements made with other brigades that included securing liberated areas with the hope of launching the offensive on Damascus."
After UN military observers entered Syria, al-Asa'ad announced a ceasefire for all forces, committed to the Kofi Annan peace plan for Syria. However, after a few days he has reannounced continuation of attacks led by rebels because the government of Bashar al-Assad, according to him, did not make peace as promised. On 31 May 2012, al-Asa'ad urged Kofi Annan to scrap his peace plan which he claims failed.
Colonel Kasim Saaduddin, a member of the FSA, stated that al-Asaad does not have control over the Free Syrian Army, which al-Asaad himself denied in the interview.
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Riad al-Asaad
Riad Mousa al-As'aad (Arabic: رياض موسى الأسعد, pronounced [riˈjɑːdˤ ˈmuːsa lˈʔæsʕæd]; born 2 February 1961) is a Syrian military officer and politician who is the founding leader of the Free Syrian Army. One of the prominent faces of the Syrian civil war, he led the armed resistance to the Assad regime as commander-in-chief of FSA, during the early phase of the Syrian Civil War. Under Riad al-Asaad's command, FSA expanded into a paramilitary force of 75,000 guerilla fighters and insurgents in March 2012; capable of ousting regime forces from Damascus. He currently serves as the deputy prime minister for Military Affairs of the Syrian Salvation Government, a position he has held since 2 November 2017. He was a former colonel in the Syrian Air Force who defected to the opposition in July 2011 and became the first Acting Commander-in-chief of the Free Syrian Army.
Some of his family members were executed by the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Following the outbreak of violence in Syria in March 2011, Colonel Riad al-Asaad announced his defection from the Syrian Air Force on 4 July 2011. He initially joined the Free Officers Movement after this defection.
On 29 July 2011, al-Asaad along with other defectors declared the establishment of the Free Syrian Army, with the intention of fighting an insurgent war to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad. Colonel Asaad opposed any exile solution for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and seeks for fighting until his government is overthrown.
On 22 September 2012, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) announced that it had moved its command centre from Turkey to liberated areas inside Syria. Alongside other military commanders of the FSA, Riad al-Asaad also hinted plans for initiating an offensive on Damascus, stating:
"To the Syrian people, its freedom fighters and all the armed factions, we are glad to let you know that the leadership of the FSA has moved into Syria following arrangements made with other brigades that included securing liberated areas with the hope of launching the offensive on Damascus."
After UN military observers entered Syria, al-Asa'ad announced a ceasefire for all forces, committed to the Kofi Annan peace plan for Syria. However, after a few days he has reannounced continuation of attacks led by rebels because the government of Bashar al-Assad, according to him, did not make peace as promised. On 31 May 2012, al-Asa'ad urged Kofi Annan to scrap his peace plan which he claims failed.
Colonel Kasim Saaduddin, a member of the FSA, stated that al-Asaad does not have control over the Free Syrian Army, which al-Asaad himself denied in the interview.