Syria: Breaking the Stalemate

The ongoing Syrian civil war has taken its toll on both sides. Neither President Bashar al Assad's regime (backed by Iran, Russia and Hezbollah) nor the Free Syrian Army (supported by various Sunni jihadist groups, Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, and the West) has been able to secure a decisive victory. But as the duration and human cost of the conflict continue to grow, all parties will be looking for an alternative to continued fighting and wider destabilization in the region.