Syrian Official Hussameddin Defects to the Opposition

The Takeaway

With a video posted on YouTube Wednesday, Syrian deputy oil minister Abdo Hussameddin announced his defection from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Hussameddin had served the Syrian government for 33 years and is the highest level political figure to abandon the government for the rebellion. “I am joining the revolution of the people who reject injustice and the brutal campaign of the regime,” Hussameddin states in the video. Jim Muir is a correspondent for our partner the BBC.

Will you support The World with a monthly donation?

Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!