ISTANBUL
The Supreme Military Council of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) discharged the army's chief and appointed a veteran field commander to the post on Sunday.
According to an announcement made in one of the FSA's social media accounts, chief of staff, Salim Idris, was removed from his post and replaced with Brigadier Abdullah al-Bashir.
The FSA cited the ineffectiveness of the general staff in the past few months as the reason for Idris' dismissal. The announcement indicated that the Syrian revolution faced difficulties due to this ineffectiveness and needed revision.
Al-Bashir was the head of the military council of Quneitra, located near the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The FSA's deputy chief of staff was also discharged and replaced with Colonel Heisem Ufaysi, the announcement said.
The Free Syrian Army is the main armed opposition group in Syria fighting to topple the country's president, Bashar al-Assad.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
