The Tactics And Strategy That The Syrian Rebels Are Using To Survive The Russian - Syrian Military Onslaught

Residents run though dust in a site damaged by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town in Idlib province, Syria October 24, 2015. REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI

Reuters: Trenches, tactics help rebels survive Syria onslaught

After the initial shock of intensive Russian air strikes, Syrian rebels on the receiving end of a major offensive say better organization and new tactics have helped them to stem losses and fight back.

A month of Russian air strikes in support of government offensives have cost the rebels in lives and supplies: commanders have been killed, bases bombed, and weapons depleted.

Supported by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanon's Hezbollah, this is the first multi-pronged attack of its kind in nearly five years of war that have diminished President Bashar al-Assad's control to a quarter or less of Syria.

But while it may be too early to say how this new phase of the war will play out, analysts say modest government gains so far do not appear to match the scale of its assault.

WNU Editor: More on this Syrian rebel tactics and planning can be read here .... Syria's Rebels Want Their Own Stalingrad