In Syria, the Regime Reverses Some Rebel Gains

As the Syrian rebels continue to advance in northern and southern Syria, loyalist offensives elsewhere in the country have reversed some rebel gains. It is clear that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad is still powerful, particularly around Damascus and the Orontes River Valley, and that momentum for either side is difficult to maintain.

Forces still loyal to al Assad pushed through rebel lines and seized the town of Otaiba, east of Damascus, on April 24, after launching many attacks that reportedly included the use of chemical weapons. Losing Otaiba has effectively severed the rebels' supply lines into an area of Damascus known as Eastern Ghouta, from which the rebels have staged heavy attacks on regime forces, and has thus hurt the rebels' war efforts in the capital.