In Syria, the Regime Shifts to Defense

Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad have largely ceased offensive operations and are instead fortifying their presence in the north and east while maintaining a line of defense in the core territory in Damascus and the western part of the country that remains under regime control. Facing a dug-in enemy that possesses considerable firepower, the rebels will likely adopt a strategy of surrounding and exhausting loyalist forces before attempting to overtake their strongholds.