So-called Free Syrian Army fires chief of staff

The military wing of the Western-backed Syrian opposition says it has dismissed its chief of staff because of the difficulties in the war against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In a statement posted online, the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it fired Salim Idris and named Abdel al-Ilah al-Bachir to replace him as the group’s military chief, AFP reported on Sunday.

The military coalition, which was established in 2011 to fight the Syrian government, has been weakened by the deep divisions among its members and its failure to make major gains.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 130,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the unrest.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — namely Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.