DAMASCUS: The Syrian Army at dawn today [Dec 19] sealed Damascus from the outside world and effected the third military coup d’état in Syria in nine months. Troops, led by Colonel Abid Shishakali, a member of the staff of the Arab Liberation Army, arrested Sami Hinnawi, Syrian Chief of Staff, who overthrew the Husni Zaim regime on Aug 14. His brother-in-law, Assad Talass, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs was taken with him. Later Col Shishakali broadcast from the Syrian capital declaring they were arrested because they plotted with foreign powers against the security of the army, the nation and the Republican regime.

The Army struck swiftly ... entering Gove­rnment buildings and the Army Headqua­r­ters and closing the streets. An exchange of fire heard … early morning suggested … Hin­­nawis guards offered resistance. (Repo­rts from Beirut … said five of Hinnawis followers died before their leader was taken.) Reports in Damascus attributed the coup to Syrian officers’ dislike for a projected Syrian-Iraq union … . Former President Hashem Atassi Pasha ... was to have taken the oath of office today. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024