A 1966 coup by an Alawite - dominated Ba'ath faction further strengthened al - Assad , and by association Tlass .
In 1965 , while he was Ba'athist army commander of Homs , Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Tlass arrested his pro-government comrades .
A 1966 coup by an Alawite - dominated Ba'ath faction further strengthened al - Assad , and by association army commander .
In 1965 , while he was Ba'athist army commander of Homs , Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Tlass arrested his pro-government comrades .