Assad’s Downfall and the Regional Balance of Power

The remaining advocates of Bashar Assad are working overtime to portray a vision of a completely chaotic Middle East if and when the Alawite regime finally collapses.

effort to rebrand ‘Arab Spring’ as ‘Islamic Awakening’ backfires in Iran

It was meant to be a crowning moment in which Iran put its own Islamic stamp on the Arab Spring. More than a thousand young activists were flown here earlier this week (at government expense) for a conference on “the Islamic Awakening,” Tehran’s effort to re-brand the popular Arab uprisings of the past year. (more…)

Israel preparing for fall of Syria’s Assad

Israel is making preparations for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a flood of refugees from his minority Alawite sect into the Golan Heights, Israel’s military chief told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.

“Assad cannot continue to hold onto power,” a committee spokesman quoted Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz as saying. (more…)

Analysts: Iraq’s Syria stance is Sunni-Shiite related

Iraq’s refusal to back Arab measures against Syria, which has since March been trying to crush a popular uprising, has confessional overtones and may boost sectarian division here, analysts say.

Minorities have nothing to fear in post-Assad Syria, Interview

In this interview the secretary-general of Syrian Salafist group Al-Muamineen al-Yousharikoun (The Believers Participate), insists that minorities having nothing to fear in a post-Assad Syria…all should be allowed to play a role.

Fearing change, many Christians in Lebanon, Syria back Assad

Abu Elias sat beneath the towering stairs leading from the Convent of Our Lady of Saydnaya, a church high up in the mountains outside Damascus, where Christians have worshiped for 1,400 years. “We are all scared of what will come next,” he said, turning to a man seated beside him, Robert, an Iraqi refugee who escaped the sectarian strife in his homeland. (more…)

Syrian uprising showing signs of armed rebellion

Once-peaceful Syrian protesters are increasingly taking up arms to fight a six-month military crackdown, frustrated that President Bashar Assad remains in control while more than 2,700 demonstrators are dead

More Syrian protesters killed in apparent sectarian violence

Syria’s protest movement struggled to keep the uprising peaceful and non-sectarian on Monday after at least 10 people, and possibly up to 30, were reported dead during the first allegedly factional clashes in Homs, a flashpoint city where Sunni and Alawi neighbourhoods sit side by side. (more…)

Cautious calm returns to Tripoli following Friday’s deadly clashes

Cautious calm was restored in Tripoli LBC television reported on Saturday , adding that one of those injured during Friday’s clashes died today.

Shops are closed in the area of clashes, and the Lebanese army is heavily deployed, the report added. (more…)

Child killed in renewed clashes in north Lebanon

A seven-year old child , Abdel Rahman al-Habchiti, was killed as a result of the renewed clashes in Tripoli neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen ( mainly Alawites who support the Syrian regime ) and Bab al-Tabbaneh ( mainly Sunnis who support the Syrian uprising ) in northern Lebanon on Friday, National News Agency reported. (more…)