(Washington Post) Liz Sly - Three years into the revolt against his rule, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in a stronger position than ever before to quell the rebellion against his rule. Aided by the steadfast support of his allies and the deepening disarray of his foes, Assad is pressing ahead with plans to be reelected to a third seven-year term this summer while sustaining intense military pressure intended to crush his opponents. The government has pushed the rebels back or squeezed them into isolated pockets in large swathes of the territory surrounding Damascus. Meanwhile, the rebels have not launched a significant offensive since last summer. A much-anticipated rebel offensive in southern Syria has not materialized.
2014-03-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive