At its first central party leadership committee meeting since 2005, the Assad regime’s ruling Baath party replaced 16 of its top leaders, including Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, who will nonetheless remain in office. Ghassan Hitto, prime minister of the rebel Syrian National Coalition, resigned today, citing an inability to form an interim government. Hitto is said to be closer to Islamists and less favored by Saudi Arabia, whose candidate, secular dissident Ahmad Assi Jarba, was selected two days ago to lead the Syrian National Coalition. Jarba said the rebels’ position was weak and proposed a truce for Ramadan; the regime did not respond to the offer and is intensifying its attacks on Homs. A commander of the rebel Hamza Assad Allah Brigade testified that the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham had killed “tens of people” in al-Dana and decapitated the leader of the Hamza Assad Allah Brigade and his brother. Sources say none of the US arms promised to the rebels has arrived as Congress has delayed shipments due to fears the weapons will fall into the hands of al Qaeda-linked forces.
