( CNN ) -- Jordan 's King Abdullah II , one of the first Arab leaders to call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down , told CNN the attack on Wednesday that killed members of al-Assad 's inner circle is a `` tremendous blow to the regime . '' But the king cautioned that he did not think the attack meant al-Assad 's regime was about to crumble immediately . The explosion , which a rebel leader said was detonated by remote control , killed Defense Minister Dawood Rajiha ; Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat -- al-Assad 's brother-in-law ; and Hasan Turkmani , al-Assad 's security adviser and assistant vice president , the state TV reports said . Interior Minister Ibrahim al-Shaar was injured in the blast , state television said , adding that he `` is in good health and that his condition is stable . '' `` This was a tremendous blow to the regime but again , Damascus has shown its resilience , so I think maybe we need to keep this in perspective , '' Abdullah told CNN 's Wolf Blitzer . `` Although this is a blow , I 'm sure the regime will continue to show fortitude at least in the near future . '' The king said the attack shows `` cracks '' in the regime , but his larger concern is the growing sectarian violence and whether it may lead to all-out civil war . Getting to know Syria 's first family . He said the danger of civil war is increasing , and it is al-Assad 's last chance to try to stop that from happening . `` If it breaks down , if civil order breaks down to the point of no return , it will take years to fix Syria . I have a feeling we 're seeing the signs of that . The only people that can bring us back from that brink is the president and the regime . This is the last chance they have . '' The king said the international community is continuing to pursue all options involving a political transition , but that recent events made him concerned about whether they could work . `` I think , as we continue to pursue the political option , the realities on the ground may have overtaken us , '' he said . `` Therefore I think the clock is ticking . I think we should continue to give politics its due , but if we have n't already passed that window , I think we 're getting very close to a ( civil war ) . '' Abdullah said he and other leaders are concerned about Syria 's chemical weapons . `` One of the worst-case scenarios , as we are trying to look for political solutions , would be if some of those chemical stockpiles would fall into unfriendly hands , '' he said . What we need to know about Syria . Jordan 's leader said that the big concern is whether the weapons could fall into the hands of groups like al Qaeda , which he said he believes is operating in parts of Syria . And he said not knowing who exactly is on which side complicates matters , including discussions of arming the rebels . Blitzer asked the king whether he thought it would be acceptable for al-Assad to flee to another country or if he wanted him to be tried for war crimes . `` If Bashar leaving the scene and exiting Syria brings a stop to the violence and creates a political transition -- that 's a lesser of evils , '' he said . Abdullah said the international community must consider that , if al-Assad were to leave , questions would arise over who would replace him and how that might affect the restoration of order in Syria . `` It 's not so much the individual , it 's the system , and does the system allow for political transition ? '' Abdullah said . `` And that 's where I have my doubts . '' Next for Syria : Showdown or stalemate ? Watch The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer weekdays at 4pm to 6pm ET and Saturdays at 6pm ET . For the latest from The Situation Room click here .
King Abdullah II says he does n't expect al - Qaeda regime to crumble immediately . He says only the Syrian president can prevent the country from sliding into civil war . If civil order breaks down completely , he says , ` ` it will take years to rebuild Syria '' He raises concerns that Syria 's chemical weapons might fall into terrorist hands .