For several years in Syria, the civil war does not stop. The armed opposition forces are actively opposing the official authorities, led by President Bashar al-Assad. So far, all the efforts of the state and international mediators have not led to an end to the armed conflict. To stop the war in Syria, apparently, can only change the positions of the parties in relation to the situation.
The situation in Syria by mid-2014
The armed opposition of Syria is extremely heterogeneous. Several groups with different political goals are acting against the Assad regime. There is evidence that some parts of the rebels are supported by the international terrorist organization Al Qaeda. Among the opposition forces, radical Islamists can be found striving by all means to create a cohesive coalition capable of overthrowing President Assad.
There is no unity in the camp of the current president’s enemies, which essentially hinders the actions of the opposition. Their Western and Arab supporters are making efforts to resolve the differences and put up a united front against the Syrian authorities. But so far, such attempts have not been successful. One of the reasons that the conflict dragged on for many years is precisely because Assad is opposed not by a specific political opponent, but by several disparate and insufficiently armed groups.
The authorities of the country periodically achieve local successes in hostilities, but after this the opposition strikes back. Lack of weapons, supplies and thousands of casualties on both sides do not stop the warring forces.
Assad opponents are actively supported by the United States, but Russia and Iran traditionally stand on the side of the ruling political elite today.
