Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — A leading U.S. think tank has raised the prospect of a collapse of the Sunni revolt in Syria.

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy asserted that the regime of President Bashar Assad was advancing along several fronts in Syria. In a report on March 11, the institute said the besieged Sunni rebels could lose
their will to continue the three-year revolt.

“While this is unlikely to happen overnight, there is always the possibility of a quick collapse of resistance through the cumulative effects of casualties, logistical problems, loss of will to fight, and declining popular support,” the report, titled “The Assad Regime Winning By Inches?” said.

Author Jeffrey White, a former U.S. military intelligence officer, said the Syrian Army, backed by Hizbullah and other Iranian-sponsored proxies, was advancing along three fronts — the border with Lebanon, Aleppo and Damascus. White said Assad’s success in either Aleppo and Damascus would shift the war in his favor and bolster the military option.

“Accordingly, many are concerned about the rebels suffering potentially substantial defeats in Aleppo and Damascus,” the report, dated March 11, said.

The regime has overseen hundreds of military operations per day across
12 of Syria’s 14 provinces. The report said Assad’s military has developed a
flexible tool kit for fighting Sunni rebels as well as conserve manpower.

The three major operations were identified as the Qalamoun-Yabroud area
north of Damascus as well as Aleppo and Damascus. The report said the
rebels were losing ground in Yabroud near the border with Lebanon amid
heavy air and artillery strikes.

“Barring a significant change in rebel capabilities, the regime will
likely push this offensive to a successful conclusion, although not quickly
and not without significant losses,” the report said.

In Aleppo, the regime, backed by Hizbullah, was encircling rebel-held
areas of Syria’s largest city and once-business capital. In Damascus, the
Syrian military was regaining territory in the southern suburbs while laying
siege on rebel strongholds.

“The regime is losing ground in some provinces, including Quneitra and
Deraa in the south and Hama in the center,” the report said. “In these
areas, regime forces are not strong enough to protect their network of
positions and appear hard pressed to hold even some important towns.
Nevertheless, much of the rebel success in these areas has been over less
important territory, with the regime
retaining control of key military facilities and major cities.”

  Bashar Assad, Hizbullah advance, Think tank: Syrian rebels face defeat as Assad forces, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Yabroud