Manaf Tlass

Tlass was born in Rastan in 1964.{{cite journal|author1=Ivan Briscoe|author2=Floor Janssen Rosan Smits|title=Stability and economic recovery after Assad: key steps for Syria's post-conflict transition|journal=Clingendael|date=November 2012|pages=1–51|url=http://www.clingendael.nl/publications/2012/20121100_syria_stability_recovery_cru.pdf|access-date=7 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119054333/http://www.clingendael.nl/publications/2012/20121100_syria_stability_recovery_cru.pdf|archive-date=19 November 2012|df=dmy-all}} He is the son of the former Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass and Lamia Al Jabiri, a member of an aristocratic Aleppo family. His father is of Circassian and Turkish origin.{{citation |last=Batatu|first=Hanna|year=1999|title=Syria's Peasantry, the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables, and Their Politics|publisher=Princeton University Press|page=218 (Table 18–1)|isbn=978-1400845842}} Businessman Firas Tlass is his elder brother. The Tlass family was the most famous Sunni family in Syria, known for supporting the government.{{cite news|author=Josef Olmert|title=With Tlass Defection Bashar Assad's Troubles Are Mounting|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-josef-olmert/with-tlass-defection-bash_b_1654321.html|access-date=7 July 2012|work=Huffington Post|date=6 July 2012}} On the other hand, the members of his family worked for the Ottoman suzerains as well as French occupiers after the First World War.{{cite news|author=Joseph Kechichian|title=Syria is bigger than individuals, says defected brigadier|url=http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/syria-is-bigger-than-individuals-says-defected-brigadier-1.1054212|access-date=27 July 2012|newspaper=Gulf News|date=27 July 2012}}

Tlass was a close friend of Bassel al-Assad, Hafez al-Assad's eldest son and heir apparent until his death in a 1994 car accident. He later became close to Bashar al-Assad; having attended military college with Assad,{{cite news|title=Profile: Manaf Tlas|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18734785|access-date=6 July 2012|work=BBC|date=6 July 2012}} Bashar al-Assad regarded the Tlass brothers as peers and friends.{{cite journal|author=Raymond Hinnebusch|title=The Ba'th Party in Post-Ba'thist Syria: President, Party and the Struggle for 'Reform'|journal=Middle East Critique|year=2011|volume=20|issue=2|pages=109–125|doi=10.1080/19436149.2011.572408|s2cid=144573563}}

In 1980, Manaf took part in a military training camp organized by the Revolutionary Youth Union.{{Cite book |last=Dagher |first=Sam |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1101180175 |title=Assad or we burn the country : how one family's lust for power destroyed Syria |date=2019 |isbn=978-0-316-55672-9 |edition=First |location=New York |oclc=1101180175}} Afterward, he attended Damascus University for civil engineering.

After Hafez al-Assad's death in 2000, Tlass became Bashar al-Assad's right-hand-man. He also became a member of the central committee of the Baath Party in 2000.{{cite web|title=President Hafez al Assad with Manaf Tlass, a young officer in the Syrian Army and son of his long-time friend Mustapha Tlass Next Previous|url=http://www.syrianhistory.com/view-photo/2450/President+Hafez+al-Assad+with+Manaf+Tlass,+a+young+officer+in+the+Syrian+Army+and+son+of+his+long-time+friend+Mustapha+Tlass/manaf+tlass|publisher=Syrian History|access-date=6 July 2012}}{{cite book|author=Alan George|title=Syria: Neither Bread Nor Freedom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dFdbVVcKsSIC&pg=PR9|access-date=2 March 2013|date=6 September 2003|publisher=Zed Books|isbn=978-1-84277-213-3|page=9}}{{cite journal|author=Sami Moubayed |title=The faint smell of jasmine |journal=Al Ahram Weekly |date=26 May – 1 June 2005 |volume=744 |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/744/re3.htm |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325171127/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/744/re3.htm |archive-date=25 March 2013 }} He was also regarded as a potential candidate for leadership in future years.{{cite journal|title=Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass|journal=Middle East Intelligence Bulletin|date=1 July 2000|volume=2|issue=6|url=http://www.meforum.org/meib/articles/0007_sd2.htm|access-date=7 July 2012}} In June 2005, Tlass was reelected to the central committee of the Baath Party.

Tlass tried to help Bashar al-Assad increase his base of support by introducing him to members of the Sunni merchant class. Tlass also advocated reform as early as 2005, but he stressed that Assad was the best hope for reform. Tlass had also reportedly held unsuccessful talks with the Syrian opposition during the 2011 Syrian uprising.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13216195|work=BBC News|title=Bashar al-Assad's inner circle|date=6 July 2012}}

Tlass was promoted to the rank of one-star general in the Republican Guards, which is one of the core military units used to crush the uprising that began in 2011. He commanded the 104th brigade that is located in Douma and Harasta in the Republican Guard together with Brigadier General Issam Zahreddine. This brigade was led by Bashar al-Assad before he became president, and by Bassel al-Assad until his death in 1994.{{cite news|author=Nour Malas|title=Defected Syrian General Heads to Paris as Diplomats Meet|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304141204577510124016836002 |access-date=6 July 2012|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=6 July 2012}}

Tlass is reported to have become increasingly frustrated over the violent crackdown by the security forces on protesters. He was the first government official meeting with the opposition in March 2011 and trying to open a dialogue and find a political solution.{{cite news|title=Manaf Tlas: Syrian regime 'taking country to Hell'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18737185|access-date=6 July 2012|work=BBC|date=6 July 2012}} He was also involved in reconciliation efforts in rural Damascus, including Douma, Daraa, al-Tall, Homs and his home town Rastan. His reconciliation efforts are said to have led to house arrest from May 2011 to his defection in July 2012.

There are several accounts from activists of Tlass's role in the uprising. Some argued that he was under house arrest, and exempted from army duty since 2011. The hometown of the Tlass family, Rastan, became an early base for army defectors at the same period. Some activists also stated that the family was under strict supervision for a while due to their suspected sympathy with the uprising.

Tlass tried to meet with Bashar al-Assad via a leading political figure who is not Syrian but is close to Assad a few days before leaving Syria. However, the meeting did not take place.

It was reported that he, along with 23 other officers,{{cite news |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/05/224699.html|work=Al Arabiya|title=Syria death toll up as high-ranking army supporter of Assad defects to Turkey|date=5 July 2012}} defected to Turkey in early July 2012, after the Syrian intelligence services discovered he was a member of the opposition.{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-top-syrian-officer-a-close-friend-of-assad-defects-and-flees-to-turkey-1.449089|work=Haaretz|title=Report: Top Syrian officer, a close friend of Assad, defects and flees to Turkey|date=5 July 2012}} Bashar al Heraki, a member of the Syrian National Council stated that Manaf Tlass was one of the government's main figures and that his defection was a sign of Bashar al Assad's waning power.{{cite news|title=Military Confidante of Syria's Assad Is Reported to Have Defected|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/world/middleeast/military-aide-of-syrias-assad-is-reported-to-have-defected.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=6 July 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 July 2012|author=Neil MacFarquhar}} The case is reported to be the first such case involving a high-ranking military commander.{{cite news|title=Senior Assad ally defects to Turkey|url=http://www.skynews.com.au/world/article.aspx?id=768624&vId=|access-date=6 July 2012|newspaper=Sky News|date=6 July 2012|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129135726/https://www.skynews.com.au/world/article.aspx?id=768624&vId=|url-status=dead}} On 6 July 2012, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stated that Manaf Tlass was on his way to Paris{{cite news|title='Top Syrian defector' Manaf Tlas heads for Paris|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18734782|access-date=6 July 2012|work=BBC|date=6 July 2012}} to join his family there.{{cite news|last=Sly|first=Liz|title=Senior Syrian military officer defects|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/senior-syrian-military-officer-reportedly-defects-to-turkey/2012/07/05/gJQAH0lMQW_story.html|access-date=6 July 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=6 July 2012}}

It was also revealed that his wife and son were in Beirut when Manaf Tlass left Damascus. After Tlass' defection, his wife and son left Beirut and went to Paris.{{cite news|author=Nasser Charara|title=Manaf Tlass: The Defection Story|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/manaf-tlass-defection-story|access-date=19 June 2012|newspaper=Al Akhbar|date=18 June 2012|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019210438/http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/manaf-tlass-defection-story|url-status=dead}}

In early July 2012, sources close to Tlass reported that he was engaged by the state of Syria and had accused Assad's regime of "taking the country to hell." The sources quoted him as having said: "if I were him, I would've done an Atatürk or resigned the second month the uprising began."{{Cite news |date=2012-07-06 |title=Manaf Tlas: Syrian regime 'taking country to Hell' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-18737185 |access-date=2024-05-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Fabius stated on 12 July 2012 that Manaf Tlass and the members of the Syrian opposition

formed contacts.{{cite news|title=Syria crisis: Deserter Manaf Tlas 'in touch with opposition'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18813759|access-date=12 July 2012|work=BBC|date=12 July 2012}} French President Francois Hollande confirmed on 17 July 2012 that Manaf Tlass was in Paris.{{cite news|title=Manaf Tlass, Syrian General Who Defected, Is In France, Says French President|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/17/manaf-tlass-syrian-general-defected-france_n_1680759.html|access-date=17 July 2012|work=Huff Post|date=17 July 2012|agency=AP}} On the same day, Manaf Tlass published a statement in the French Press Agency. He called for "a constructive transition" in Syria and said the Syrian army had fought against the Syrian people.{{cite news|title=Syrian armed rebels take fight to government troops in Damascus|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/17/syrian-armed-rebels-fight-damascus|access-date=17 July 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 July 2012|author1=Ian Black|author2=Julian Borger}}

Tlass called on Syrians to unite and look towards a post-revolutionary Syria, in video address broadcast from Saudi Arabia on 24 July 2012. It was his first public appearance since he defected in early July 2012.{{cite news|title=Defected general calls for rebuilding free Syria, rejects 'criminal' violence|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/25/228190.html|access-date=25 July 2012|work=Al Arabiya|date=25 July 2012}}

:“I speak to you as a defected member of the Syrian army, who refuses criminal violence … I speak to you as one of the sons of Syria."

:“Honorable Syrian army officers do not accept the criminal acts in Syria … Allow me to serve Syria after [President Bashar] al-Assad’s era. We must all unite to serve Syria and promote stability in the country, rebuilding a free and democratic Syria.”

:“Allow me to call on a united Syria, the new Syria ... should not be built on revenge, exclusion or monopoly.”

He said he did not blame those troops who have not defected, adding that “whatever mistakes made by some members of the Syrian Arab Army ... those honorable troops who have not partaken in the killing ... are the extension of the Free Syrian Army.”

His cousin, Abdul Razzak Tlass, had announced that his cousin Manaf provided him and several units of the Free Syrian Army with arms in order to counter the military campaign on Rastan. Also, Manaf's older brother, Firas Tlas, declared his support for the opposition. Firas Tlass also admitted to offering humanitarian and relief aid to the Farouq Brigades in the Free Syrian Army which is commanded by his cousin Abdul Razzak Tlas.{{cite news|last=Al Hindi|first=Omar|title=The life and times of the defecting Syrian army man, Manaf Tlas|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/26/228550.html|access-date=26 July 2012|work=Al Arabiya|date=26 July 2012}}

Tlass visited Saudi Arabia in the last week of July 2012. His visit was organized by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, newly appointed head of Saudi Intelligence.{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443931404577549261903962128 |title=Key Role Floated for Syrian Defector|date=26 July 2012|access-date=26 July 2012|author=Jay Solomon|author2=Sam Dagher|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}} During the visit, Tlass did the rituals of the Umrah in Mecca.{{cite news|title=العميد المنشق عن النظام سوري مناف طلاس في العمرة|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhGlQmN02r4|access-date=27 July 2012|date=25 July 2012}} He confirmed his defection in an exclusive video for Saudi-based TV channel Al Arabiya and gave his first interview to the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.{{cite news|title=Asharq Al-Awsat talks to General Manaf Tlass|url=http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=3&id=30476|access-date=27 July 2012|date=26 July 2012}}

Tlass then went to Turkey on 26 July 2012{{cite news|title=Defected Assad confidant visiting Turkey|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/defected-assad-confidant-seeks-syrian-unity/522d219e164d4bff8a93076da6b812b0|access-date=26 July 2012|newspaper=Oregon Live|date=26 July 2012|agency=AP}}{{cite news|author=Uğur Ergan|title=Esad'ın eski sağ kolu tümgeneral Tlas'tan Ankara'ya kritik ziyaret (A critical visit to Ankara by Assad's old confidant)|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/21075657.asp|access-date=26 July 2012|newspaper=Hürriyet|date=26 July 2012|language=Turkish}} where he met with the then Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and the undersecretary of National Intelligence Organization, Hakan Fidan.{{cite news|author=Erdal Şafak|title=General's Road map|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/07/generals-road-map.html|access-date=30 July 2012|newspaper=Sabah|date=28 July 2012|format=Translated from Turkish}}

Tlass is a Sunni Muslim. He is married to Tala Kheir Tlass.{{cite web|title=President Hafez al-Assad with the family of his long-time friend, Defense Minister Mustapha Tlass in 2000|url=http://www.syrianhistory.com/view-photo/1725/President+Hafez+al-Assad+with+the+family+of+his+long-time+friend,+Defense+Minister+Mustapha+Tlass+in+2000/manaf+tlass|publisher=Syrian History|access-date=6 July 2012}}{{cite news|author=Khaled Yacoub Oweis|title=Newsmaker: Syrian general breaks from Assad's inner circle|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-tlas-idUSBRE8640X920120705|access-date=5 July 2012|work=Reuters|date=5 July 2012}} His wife is from the Damascus upper middle class,{{cite news|last=Ketz|first=Sammy|title=Manaf Tlass: from golden boy to dissident|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g23jZDCFyYTg7Szxl_LTAbN8dHMA?docId=CNG.07f85203393f3d78463858245bfbe475.01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714005513/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g23jZDCFyYTg7Szxl_LTAbN8dHMA?docId=CNG.07f85203393f3d78463858245bfbe475.01|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2012|access-date=6 July 2012|work=AFP|date=6 July 2012}} the daughter of a Damascus intellectual and granddaughter of the nationalist merchant, Adib Kheir. They have two sons, Hamza and Mounzer, and a daughter, Lamia Tlass.

{{Reflist|colwidth=33em}}

{{Tlass family}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tlass, Manaf}}

Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Homs Military Academy alumni

Manaf

Category:Syrian Sunni Muslims

Category:Syrian people of Circassian descent

Category:Syrian people of Turkish descent

Category:Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region politicians

Category:Syrian generals

Category:People of the Syrian civil war

Category:Syrian defectors