Five reasons why Syria may be at a tipping point

Syrian soldiers are celebrating after their entry al-Midan neighbourhood in Damascus, on July 20, in this photo taken on a guided government tour. (Reuters)

5. Wavering by Russia?

No foreign power has been a more prominent ally to the Assad regime than Russia. Along with China, Russia yesterday once again vetoed a Western-sponsored UN Security Council resolution on Syria, even as international pressure to act mounts.

But even the previously stalwart Kremlin has shown hints that it thinks Assad’s end is near. The Guardian notes that Russia’s ambassador to France, Alexandre Orlov, told French RFI radio today that “I believe it is difficult for him to remain after everything that has happened... and he has accepted this in some way. … He has accepted he has to go, but to go in a civilized way.”

The Guardian adds that Russia also has yet to deliver its controversial shipment of military helicopters to Syria. While a Russian source told Interfax that the worsening situation in Syria has prevented the safe shipment of the helicopters, the Guardian wonders if perhaps the Russians “are just not trying very hard.”