Assad's forces have had the momentum on the ground the past year, backed by an overwhelming Russian air campaign and fighters from Iran and Hezbollah. In a joint statement released earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Putin agreed there is no military solution to Syria's war. One would be if Russia forces Assad to accept a political transition that ensures his departure from the presidency. Russia, meanwhile, helped mediate a series of local cease-fires between Assad's forces and rebels on most fronts around the country. When Syria's conflict began with mass protests in March 2011, many expected Assad to be quickly toppled like other Arab leaders.

Source: ABC News November 21, 2017 06:10 UTC