War rages on in the politically divided battlefield that is Syria. Opposition forces continue to wage against regime forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and promise that their country will eventually be free of Assad's tyrannical hands. Rumors that the embattled president may resort to chemical weapons on his people have lit a fire under the international community, which is eager to see the end of the civil war.
In the final installment of "Battle for Syria," we will take a look at the latest developments in Damascus as well as the threat of chemical warfare. Is there an end to the fighting in sight and what will a regime-free Syria look like?
Latest Developments
Fighting between the rebel Free Syrian Army and the regime's forces has been focused in Syria's capital over the last two weeks. According to CNN, the fight for control of the capital has been concentrated in the suburbs of Damascus, although rebels have shifted their focus to the Damascus International Airport.
FSA spokesman Louai Miqdad told reporters that rebel forces have begun "ongoing military operations" to block the regime from getting "military supplies and reinforcements" through the airport. While Assad's regime has managed to maintain control of Damascus, opposition rebels have gained control of large parts of northern Syria, CNN reported.
Rebel forces have also received crucial monetary aid from France, the Guardian reported on Friday. According to the British newspaper, the new "influx of money has made a difference in recent weeks as momentum on the battlefields of the north steadily shifts towards the opposition."
France, along with Great Britain, Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council, has also recognized the recently formed opposition coalition as the legitimate representative of Syria.
The death toll in the country continues to rise, already surpassing 40,000 deaths. Syrian refugees have also left the country in droves, arriving in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
Regime Threat of Chemical Warfare
Over the past few days, international leaders have turned their attention to Syria as concerns that Assad's regime could use chemical weapons against its people arose.
While the Syrian government has said that it wouldn't use chemical weapons "even if it had them, against its own people, U.S. intelligence has found that the government is using sarin gas (a nerve agent) in its aerial bombs, CNN reported.
The threat of chemical weapon use has not only worried the international community but has lead NATO to decide to send troops to the Turkish-Syrian border, NBC News reported on Friday. The regime in turn, claims that concerns of chemical warfare are being promoted by Western nations to facilitate international intervention.
Foreign Policy's Charles Blair contends that Assad's regime isn't likely to use chemical weapons for risk of losing Russian and Chinese support, sanctioning foreign military intervention and even speeding up its own demise. Unless the regime makes an "unsound decision [to use chemical agents] based on an altered sense of reality," it is more likely that terrorist organizations take hold of the chemical weapons, Blair wrote.
"Given Syria's porous border, there are legitimate fears that these agents could find their way to Western Europe, Russia, the United States, or elsewhere. Some could also remain in-country, complicating the transition to a post-Assad government," Blair said. He added, "Were chemical agents to fall into the hands of armed factions battling for control of the nation, the implications would be stark and ominous."
Projections on the Future of Syria
It is difficult to project how the battle for Syria will ultimately end. The chances of a permanent end to Assad's regime in the foreseeable future have risen since the international community has turned its attention to the war torn nation and as rebels gain critical momentum.
However, as many argue, there is a big probability that Syria's infighting problems will not end if the regime is toppled.
Syria has a good chance of spiraling out of control and finding itself much like Iraq did when dictator Saddam Hussein was overthrown. Jihadist groups have managed to entrench themselves among rebel forces and could look to destabilize a future transition of power.
International military intervention, specifically by the United States, could also prove to be disastrous. The U.S. risks finding itself in a new Iraq, or worse, a new Afghanistan, where former allies turned into enemies.
Previous installments of "Battle for Syria":
>> Part I: Understanding the Conflict that is Ripping the Nation Apart
>> Part II: The World Reacts as Violence Spills Over Syria's Borders
>> Part III: Who is President Bashar al-Assad and Who is in His Inner Circle?
>> Part IV: The Syrian Opposition, Who Are They and What Are They Doing Against Bashar al-Assad's Government
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