The regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria is facing what U.S. experts say is the most intense pressure since the early days of the four-year conflict . This new squeeze poses some stark choices for the United States, Russia, Iran and Syria’s neighbors.
Syria
Syrian town tries to rise from ashes after ISIS defeat – CNN.com
They called it Kobanigrad, the destruction was so complete. Months of coalition airstrikes and ISIS bombing flattening some parts of the town, leaving others uninhabitable. The question so many asked during the fighting was what would the spoils of victory be?
via Syrian town tries to rise from ashes after ISIS defeat – CNN.com.
Islamic State appears to be fraying from within – The Washington Post
The Islamic State appears to be starting to fray from within, as dissent, defections and setbacks on the battlefield sap the group’s strength and erode its aura of invincibility among those living under its despotic rule.Reports of rising tensions between foreign and local fighters, aggressive and increasingly unsuccessful attempts to recruit local citizens for the front lines, and a growing incidence of guerrilla attacks against Islamic State targets suggest the militants are struggling to sustain their carefully cultivated image as a fearsome fighting force drawing Muslims together under the umbrella of a utopian Islamic state.
via Islamic State appears to be fraying from within – The Washington Post.
A Broader Look at the War Across Syria – Multimedia Feature – NYTimes.com
A Broader Look at the War Across SyriaWestern countries have struggled to reach a consensus on a response to the use of chemical weapons in the suburbs of Damascus on Aug. 21. One reason for disagreement is how an attack could affect the civil war, which is being fought in different ways across the country
via A Broader Look at the War Across Syria – Multimedia Feature – NYTimes.com.
ssgates 