The car bomb that stole his leg and his army

A Syrian Air Force colonel defects to lead a rebel army, but as the Free Syrian Army grows, he faces a brutal choice: control or survival.

The car bomb that stole his leg and his army

This episode explores the story of Colonel Riad Mousa al-Asaad, who built a formidable fighting force in Syria. It delves into the complexities of leadership when a movement takes on a life of its own, and the personal cost of defying a regime.

Event: Car bomb detonation Date: March 25, 2013 Location: Mayadin, eastern Syria Person: Colonel Riad Mousa al-Asaad Organization: Free Syrian Army

- Colonel Riad Mousa al-Asaad, born in 1961, was a Syrian Air Force colonel who chose to defy the Assad government in 2011. - On July 4, 2011, al-Asaad publicly announced his defection and joined the Free Syrian Movement. - On July 29, 2011, al-Asaad and other defectors declared the establishment of the Free Syrian Army with the goal of overthrowing the Assad government. - By March 2012, the Free Syrian Army had grown to an estimated 75,000 fighters, though its chain of command was publicly disputed. - Al-Asaad, based in Turkey under intelligence protection, faced accusations from protesters of being too slow to leave the regime.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].