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U.S. Options in Syria Shrivel as Islamists and Assad Regime Make Gains

(CNN) Tim Lister - The fortunes of potential U.S. allies among Syrian rebel groups are ebbing fast as hardline Salafist groups and especially al-Qaeda's affiliate go on the offensive. The past month has dealt further reverses to moderate groups, whose presence in the northern provinces of Idlib and Aleppo has further eroded. This is a growing headache for the U.S., which is trying to identify and train moderate rebel factions to take on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Kimberly Kagan, president of the Institute for the Study of War, said, "the moderate opposition remains marginal and incapable of shaping the battlefield in any material way." Noah Bonsey of the International Crisis Group said coalition airstrikes against ISIS had allowed President Assad to refocus on hitting mainstream rebels, and the regime had made gains around Hama and Aleppo.
2014-12-05 00:00:00
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