Assad captures last major rebel stronghold

A month ago it didn’t look like it would turn out this way, but a month of ineternational dawdling has given the Assad regime the time it needed to crush rebels in their last remaining stronghold in the northern city of Idlib:

 The Syrian army has recaptured the northern rebel stronghold of Idlib near the Turkish border, a major base that military defectors had held for months, a pro-government newspaper and an activist group said Tuesday.The three-day operation to capture Idlib gives the regime some momentum as it tries to crush the armed resistance. But it also fed international condemnation. The Arab League chief said the regime’s killing of civilians amounts to crimes against humanity and he called for an international inquiry.New York-based Human Rights Watch said troops have planted land mines near its borders with Turkey and Lebanon along routes used by people fleeing the violence and trying to reach safety in neighboring countries.

Maybe the rebellion will restart, but it looks less than likely.

Tags: Syria

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