Dr Christopher Phillips comments on the slowing of momentum for Syrian rebels since the Arab Spring, in CNN’s overview of the conflict in Syria. He says that this is partly due to the assumption that the government would not use the level of force that it has, adding:
“Initially al-Assad had to fabricate the existence of an armed opposition in Syria, but the emergence of such groups gave the regime pretext to crack down so heavily.” He also comments on the role of external powers.