The Struggle in Syria Intensifies

The war in Syria is intensifying. As rebels grow in number and experience, the regime responds with heavier weapons and a reliance on artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopter gunships. The government still holds the advantage because of its superior firepower. But even as Syrian armed forces continue to score some major battlefield successes, trends over the last few months indicate that the momentum has largely shifted to the opposition. As in any insurgency, the rebel forces have the benefit of being able to select when and where they will strike or if they will decline a battle. The regime, on the other hand, is forced to try to protect a wide array of critical cities and sites at any given time.