Recently appointed Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab defected to the opposition forces this week, making him one of the highest profile deserters from President Bashar Assad’s government since fighting began.

Syrian state-run media announced that he had been fired, but the truth came out in a statement made Monday.

In a formal statement read by a spokesperson, Hijab said, “I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime and I announce that I have joined the ranks of the freedom and dignity revolution. I announce that I am from today a soldier in this blessed revolution.”

The high-profile defection is simply further proof that the Assad regime is crumbling and that a new government will soon transition into power, Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, asserted on Monday.

It has been reported that Hijab and his family have fled to Jordan. Jordanian state media at first denied that allegation, but official statements from Hijab’s spokesman, Mohammed Otari, have confirmed that he did in fact flee to Jordan.

Hijab’s defection comes at a time of immense turmoil. President Assad is trying to show that he is still in control, but he is coming under increasing pressure from Turkey and Saudi Arabia to cave to the opposition. Surrounding states are verbally supporting the arming of the Syrian rebels and Turkey has shown support by sending troops and weapons to the Syrian border.

The fighting between the Syrian forces and the Free Syrian Army has claimed over 18,000 lives already, and there is no sign that the violence will lessen in the near future.

Watch for the increased weakening of Assad’s regime, a new Syrian government transitioning into power, and the shift of Syrian allegiance from Iran to Gulf nations, like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, that are wary of Iran’s growing regional power.