Syria expert discusses defections claim

Discussing the reported military defections in Syria over phone from Norman, Oklahoma, Joshua Landis, director of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, said: “Syria is a deeply divided society. We have to be cautious with this notion of a wholesale mutiny on the part of Sunni soldiers.

“Undoubtedly we have heard of a few, so far individuals.

“Now this tank unit is a new thing. For a whole unit to go over to the other side … I think that this is something that we will see more of.

“There is a lot of pressure for the army to abandon the regime.”