Doomed Damascus

My Way News - Al-Qaida-linked Syria rebels hit Christian village
My Way News reports: "Al-Qaida-linked rebels launched an assault Wednesday on a regime-held Christian village in the densely populated west of Syria and new clashes erupted near the capital, Damascus - part of a brutal battle of attrition each side believes it can win despite more than two years of deadlock. [...] The four-decade iron rule of the Assad clan over Syria has long rested on support from the country's ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Shiite Muslims and Kurds. The Assad family and key regime figures are Alawites, followers of an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while most rebels and their supporters are Sunni Muslims."

My Way News - Jihadis from Caucasus form own group in Syria
My Way News reports: "A foreign fighter in Syria says jihadis from the Caucasus have formed an independent fighting force. In a video posted online Wednesday by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a man wearing a camouflage uniform is seen standing among other fighters, who he says have come to Syria from the Caucasus and Russia to wage jihad."

My Way News - White House praises Senate for backing Syria plan
My Way News reports: "The White House is praising a Senate panel for backing President Barack Obama's call for a military strike in Syria. [...] The resolution backing the use of force in response to a chemical weapons attack the U.S. blames on Assad's government won approval Wednesday on a 10-7 vote. The measure is expected to reach the Senate floor next week."

Comment: The religious context is often left out of mainstream analysis of the conflcit, I'm glad it's getting some exposure. I'm fairly certain a Sunni victory would not be a good thing for Syria's Christians. After all, the Sunni rebels are being backed by Saudi Arabia, not a land known for religious tolerance.