A ministry statement said army, police and Nato troops launched 11 operations in the past 24 hours across the country.
Now, however, he said army units were rotated so often that deals with corrupt commanders had to be constantly renegotiated.
But state-run news agency Sana said army units struck "terrorist" groups in Daraa province.
With CALO doing mundane work, he said, Army officers can focus on more important matters.
"Firefights have been intense, sometimes in heavy combat actions," said Army Maj.
"Our offense was rolling," said Army linebacker Brian Zickefoose, who had 10 tackles.
Nine soldiers and an unspecified number of villages were missing, said army Major General Ariel Bernardo.
And though he felt that his injuries were significant enough to keep him out of combat, his lawyer said, Army doctors said he was fit to deploy.
The security official said army forces linked to Saleh allowed the prisoners to escape as the militiamen, dubbed "popular committees" by their supporters, advanced.
Some residents said army soldiers had been robbing cars, and when police officers intervened, a mini-war between the heavily armed men on each side broke out.
Haider Mazban, 24, wearing a gray T-shirt that said Army in block capital letters, said that the militia could come back at any time.
