 The coup was precipitated by a heightening in the power struggle between the party 's old guard , represented by Michel Aflaq , Salah al @-@ Din al @-@ Bitar , and Munif al @-@ Razzaz , and the younger factions adhering to a Neo @-@ Ba 'athist position . On 21 February , supporters of the old guard in the army ordered the transfer of their rivals . Two days later , the Military Committee , backing the younger factions , launched a coup that involved violent fighting in Aleppo , Damascus , Deir ez @-@ Zor , and Latakia . As a result of the coup , the party 's historical founders fled the country and spent the rest of their lives in exile . 
