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The Assad Regime Is Cracking under Pressure

(Foreign Policy) Jonathan Spyer - Two years after celebrating victory in the Syrian civil war, the regime of Bashar Assad is facing a mini-insurgency in Daraa province, birthplace of the 2011 revolt, as well as demonstrations in adjacent Suwayda. The economy is hurtling toward the abyss. Assad urgently needs money for reconstruction. However, his main allies have no money to give. The U.S. has maintained a united front with the EU to demand that no reconstruction funds be made available to Syria so long as the regime refuses a "comprehensive, genuine and inclusive political transition." Moreover, the new Caesar sanctions against the Syrian government will severely penalize third parties doing business with Assad's Syria. Despite talk of the war winding down, Assad and his allies still only control 60% of Syria. The Turks and their Sunni Islamist allies control 15%, while 25% is controlled by the U.S.-aligned, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The writer is director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis.
2020-07-02 00:00:00
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