What started as a sudden advance by Syrian opposition forces last weekend (see REPORT: Coup Underway in Damascus As Two Major Cities Fall to Islamist Insurgents; Assad and Family Flee) has cascaded into a rout of the Syrian army, opposition forces only about five miles from the heart of the Syrian capital of Damascus, and Bashar al-Assad’s allies cutting and running.
Iran began to evacuate its military commanders and personnel from Syria on Friday, according to regional officials and three Iranian officials, in a sign of Iran’s inability to help keep President Bashar al-Assad in power as he faces a resurgent rebel offensive.
Among those evacuated to neighboring Iraq and Lebanon were top commanders of Iran’s powerful Quds Forces, the external branch of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, the officials said.
The move signaled a remarkable turn for Mr. al-Assad,…
