Int’l Press: Al-Qusayr Fall Gives Syrian Regime Upper Hand

Friday, 7 June 2013

Int’l Press: Al-Qusayr Fall Gives Syrian Regime Upper Hand

The capture by Syrian army of the strategic al-Qusayr border city became the talk of the day, as analysts told Agence France Presse that al-Qusayr achievement is a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad, who is now better placed than ever if a US-Russian plan for peace talks materializes.The regime has "the advantage right now" while the insurgents are "losing morale", said analyst Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Doha Center.

He believed the Syrian forces, who are experienced in guerrilla warfare, will remain engaged wherever the regime needs them. "On a psychological level, this is very important, not just for Syria but for the international community," added Hamid. "In any peace conference or negotiations, it puts the regime at an advantage."

Now, the insurgents are "reluctant to go to Geneva. This is the worst time for them to sit at the negotiating table because they have less leverage today than they have had in months," noted Hamid.

For his part, Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at Paris Sud University told AFP that "the regime appears very strong because it can now take control from Damascus to the coast." Moreover, the military analyst at the Dubai-based Inegma center, Naji Malaeb, said "the regime is meanwhile seeking to "cleanse key cities Aleppo (in the north), Damascus and Homs [in the center] before any international conference is held." The town is also important "because it lies on a rebel supply route" from majority Sunni areas in northern Lebanon to Homs in central Syria, indicated Malaeb.