{"id":134564,"date":"2024-12-08T02:49:21","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T19:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=134564"},"modified":"2024-12-08T02:49:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T19:49:21","slug":"assad-regime-in-syria-may-fall-in-days-us-increasingly-believes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=134564","title":{"rendered":"Assad regime in Syria may fall in days, US increasingly believes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<p>\n    <cite class=\"source__cite\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__location\" data-editable=\"location\"\/><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__text\" data-editable=\"source\">CNN<\/span><br \/>\n        \u00a0\u2014\u00a0<br \/>\n    <\/cite>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eeq1zx001m25qo4msz5hrm@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Biden administration officials, watching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/live-news\/syria-civil-war-12-07-2024-intl\/index.html\">the remarkable speed<\/a> of the Syrian rebel advance, increasingly see the possibility of the regime of Bashar al-Assad falling within days, five US officials told CNN.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o00063b6nrmztroau@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            If the American analysis proves true, it would represent a spectacularly fast fall from power for the Syrian dictator after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/30\/middleeast\/syrian-civil-war-reignited-explainer-intl\/index.html\">14-year war<\/a>, one that had been relatively stagnant until just last week.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o00073b6n2e4glqwu@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Officials cautioned that a formal assessment on Assad\u2019s fate hasn\u2019t emerged and that views vary, saying his demise isn\u2019t a forgone conclusion.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o00083b6nq4z07ozm@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cThe emerging consensus is that is an increasingly plausible scenario,\u201d one senior US official said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000a3b6nets5k3zg@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cProbably by next weekend the Assad regime will have lost any semblance of power,\u201d another official said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000b3b6nw5ng3w9v@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cOnly thing that would delay a rebel conquest would be a well-organized coup and reorganization, but Assad\u2019s folks have done a good job of stifling any potential competitors,\u201d the official added.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejml6s000u3b6mp7bsfnxy@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Another source familiar with US intelligence about the developments noted that so far, the opposition has made progress because regime forces have largely not stayed in the fight. But the areas the opposition forces have advanced the most \u2014 Aleppo, Idlib and Hama \u2014 also are not flush with regime support, so they encountered less resistance, this person said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ek7tty00143b6mwnhnmcdh@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cThe question is whether regime forces actually stand their ground when it comes to Damascus,\u201d they added.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000c3b6njj2w10sk@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Rebels are racing toward the Syrian capital after routing government forces in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/05\/middleeast\/syria-rebels-hama-government-intl\/index.html\">two of the country\u2019s biggest cities<\/a> in an advance that started just over a week ago. Homs, Syria\u2019s third largest city, lies next in their path as they sweep south.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000d3b6noyob48uw@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Beyond there, the capital Damascus.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000e3b6n881dwbg2@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The Biden administration appeared <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/02\/politics\/us-syria-diplomatic-situation\/index.html\">caught off guard<\/a> by the speed of the rebel advance launched last week. Regime troops have collapsed and melted away, leaving a fragile shell of an army to defend the president and Damascus.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000f3b6naebwppvl@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The US has misjudged the staying power of regimes before, most recently in Afghanistan \u2014 where the US intelligence community judged that the Afghan government would be more resilient than it ultimately was \u2014 and in Ukraine, which the US wrongly believed would fall to Russia within days of Moscow\u2019s invasion. As a result, in 2022 the US intelligence launched a review of how it assesses the \u201cwill to fight\u201d of foreign militaries, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/05\/13\/politics\/us-intelligence-review-ukraine\/index.html\">CNN previously reported<\/a>.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejjk0h000l3b6m99htj0ew@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The offensive is the first major flare-up in years between the Syrian opposition and the regime of Assad, who has ruled the war-torn country since 2000. Syria\u2019s civil war began during the 2011 Arab Spring as the regime suppressed a pro-democracy uprising against Assad. More than 300,000 civilians have been killed in more than a decade of war, according to the United Nations, and millions of people have been displaced.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000g3b6n12t4nr71@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Leading the rebel advance in Syria is a group designated by the US as terrorist organization: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which was previously linked to al Qaeda.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000h3b6n5v8utm2p@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cWe have real concerns about the designs and objectives of that organization,\u201d national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN last weekend.  \u201cAt the same time, of course, we don\u2019t cry over the fact that the Assad government, backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, are facing certain kinds of pressure.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000i3b6njin9dmmn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            There is little sign that Iran and Russia \u2014 whose support have kept Assad in power \u2014 are going to swoop in to save him, at least in a way that would make a difference. Russia is bogged down with its war in Ukraine, and Iran has been significantly weakened after Israel\u2019s recent strikes on its air defenses and decimation of its regional proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. HTS appears to have taken advantage of the fact that Assad\u2019s allies were all distracted \u2014 and that the world was not paying much attention to Syria \u2014 when it launched its operation, one of the US officials said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000j3b6n01d204db@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            One of the US officials said the Pentagon, which has around 900 troops in Syria, is not making plans to change its force posture in the country and is waiting to see what happens while taking additional force protection measures.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000k3b6nfuf5gb9o@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The US has long partnered with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces for anti-ISIS operations in Syria. The SDF has maintained contact with the rebel group known as HTS, the US official said, but the US does not communicate with HTS because it is considered a terrorist organization.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000l3b6nnuoipo6c@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            HTS does not appear to have the overt support of Assad adversary Turkey, but US officials believe Turkey gave the group a green light to launch its operation.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000m3b6nqephp15g@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            One significant concern the administration has is the safety of Assad\u2019s stockpile of chemical weapons, thought to include both chlorine and sarin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/08\/politics\/opcw-iit-syria-chemical-weapons-report\/index.html\">which Assad has infamously used<\/a> in rebel areas to the horror of the international community.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eev84o000n3b6nhnuutytp@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            It is unclear where Assad would flee to, US officials said. His patrons could offer refuge in Moscow or Tehran, and it remains to be seen whether the rebels will set their sights on Latakia, an enclave of the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejizpz000i3b6muh0p622a@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The potential fall of the regime in Syria comes at a critical time in the United States as President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/joe-biden\">Joe Biden<\/a> prepares to hand over power to President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/president-donald-trump-47\">Donald Trump<\/a>.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejjkm4000n3b6m66q4n3n7@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The incoming president is already making his views clear, taking to social media Saturday to call for the US to stay out of any potential regime change and let the conflict unfold.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejjkm4000o3b6mzuqvya43@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cSyria is a mess, but is not our friend,\u201d he wrote, urging a hands-off approach and concluding with the message: \u201cLET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejjkm4000p3b6mtzrgoper@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Early in his first term, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/04\/06\/politics\/donald-trump-syria-military\/index.html\">Trump ordered strikes<\/a> against Assad\u2019s regime in response to a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians. Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/10\/13\/politics\/us-troops-syria-turkey\/index.html\">later sought<\/a> to withdraw US troops involved in the fight against ISIS from northern Syria, though hundreds remained in the country.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejjkm4000q3b6m6qc8wcbv@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, warned Friday on social media that the US government needs to ensure ISIS prisoners detained in northeast Syria are not set free and that US troops in the country have the support they need.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4ejjkm4000r3b6mpo8c6e0j@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cIf there is a further collapse of the Syrian government, I fear that U.S. forces could be put in jeopardy. It is therefore imperative that we have contingency plans to reinforce our troops to make sure the anti-ISIS mission does not collapse,\u201d the South Carolina Republican wrote on X.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4egzj9s00083b6m4p8ryzxi@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            <em>This story has been updated with additional information.<\/em>\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph paragraph_contributors inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_contributors\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4eh0vk4000f3b6mqjkkqx26@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            CNN\u2019s Sam Fossum contributed to this report.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/07\/politics\/assad-regime-syrian-civil-war\/index.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CNN \u00a0\u2014\u00a0 Biden administration officials, watching the remarkable speed of the Syrian rebel advance, increasingly see the possibility of the regime of Bashar al-Assad falling within days, five US officials &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=134564\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-world","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=134564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134564\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=134564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=134564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=134564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}