Syria Rebels Seize Iraq Border
REBELS have seized control of all of Syria’s border crossings with Iraq, dealing a new blow to President Bashar al-Assad, as China and Russia dismayed the West by blocking UN action against his regime.
The rebel offensive on Syria’s eastern border came as the army focused its resources on Damascus, resorting to tank fire in the capital for the first time in its efforts to root out rebel fighters a day after a bomb blast killed three of Assad’s top aides.
The president appeared in public for the first time since the bombing, greeting his new defence minister on state television, as he scrambled to shore up his battered prestige.
It was the third time in nine months that Russia and China had used their powers as permanent members of the UN Security Council to block resolutions on Syria.
The dominoes are falling. China and Russia are going to find themselves on the wrong side of this one. Russia has the most to lose. Syria has long been the staunchest of remaining allies from the days of the unlamented USSR. The successors to al-Assad won’t soon forget the series of vetoes cast by the Russians in the Security Council.
As for the border situation: I wonder how Shia Iraq feels about Sunni Syrians controlling the border.