In Syria About To Become A ‘Frozen Conflict’?

Jerusalem Post: Behind the lines: Is Syria on the way to becoming a ‘frozen conflict’?

Neither a grand ‘4+1’ (Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria plus Hezbollah) war against ‘terror’ nor a regime pullout from Damascus to an Alawi enclave in the western coastal area appears to be in the cards

The latest moves on the regime side in the Syrian war suggest an effort by its allies, including Russia, to “freeze” the conflict rather than to continue it to victory. This is because victory in the form originally conceived of – the reconquest of the entirety of the country by the Assads – is clearly no longer achievable.

To freeze a conflict in this sense does not imply that the conflict will become inert or inactive, but only that it will continue to smolder on without resolution.

The newest statements by leaders and mouthpieces of the various elements supporting the dictator, meanwhile, offer clues as to how the ongoing conflict is to be presented by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s allies – as a fight against “terrorism,” as exemplified, they claim, by both Islamic State and its rival Jabhat al-Nusra.

WNU Editor: This analysis from the Jerusalem Post makes a lot of sense to me. Assad does not have the resources to retake the country .... so the alternative .... and I am sure that this is what Russia and Iran have told him .... best keep what you have, destabilize your opponents so that they are not a serious military threat, and hope that a war of attrition will result in a compromise sometime in the future. But the outcome may be different .... because of Russia's involvement .... the Gulf states will be increasing the quantity and quality of arms to the Syrian rebels .... this conflict may be on the verge of actually exploding to a level that I has not been seen.