As the Syrian military continues to advance against rebel fighter strongholds in Aleppo and its surrounding suburbs Wednesday, several high level diplomats defected, adding to the long list of officials who have abandoned President Bashar Assad’s struggling regime.

The Syrian diplomats, one from the United Arab Emirates and the other from Cyprus, deserted their posts like other senior Syrian officials have since the uprising began. U.S. officials and analysts say it is one of the strongest signs that Assad is losing his grip on power.