The Associated Press is reporting this morning that the Syrian National Coalition is calling for immediate intervention by the West and the United Nations to provide food and medical assistance to the besieged rebel-held areas of Homs and Dara'a. We've seen this before in the run up to Syrian Arab Army control of Qusayr.
It's hard to imagine things going any worse for the rebels. The Syrian National Coalition is meeting in Istanbul to agree on new leadership. So far there is no indication that divisions can be bridged. The coup in Cairo will sow even more division. The big benefactor nations will turn their attention to Egypt. The GCC has come out in support of the Egyptian military while Tunisia and Turkey defend their political brethren in the Muslim Brotherhood. The United States is biding its time. Al-Assad feels strengthened by the turn of events.
If civil war breaks out in Egypt between Islamists and the military, the United States will favor an immediate cease fire. This will put it odds with its position regarding Syria, which is that more blood needs to be spilled before al-Assad is softened up enough to negotiate his power away.
If civil war does not break out and the Egyptian military manages a smoother transition to a more inclusive Democratic state this time around, then al-Assad will not have to worry about Sunni imams using Cairo to issue calls for jihad against Syria. The Egyptian military doesn't want jihadis returning from foreign wars to stir up trouble at home.
Either outcome of the coup, al-Assad has reason to gloat.
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