Assad continues to make efforts to secure his capital by advancing in southern suburbs:
The fall of the rebel-held town of Hujaira, next to a Shi'ite shrine where pro-Assad militia from Iraq, Iran and Lebanon are based, occurred after loyalist forces overran a series of Sunni Muslim suburbs in the area in recent weeks defended by Islamist rebels who include al Qaeda-linked foreign jihadists.
And in the north, Assad's forces are looking to make gains:
Syrian government forces backed by foreign Shi'ite Muslim militia advanced on rebels in the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, bent on recapturing districts from opposition brigades weakened by infighting, activists said.
Note that in both areas, foreign forces are mentioned. Since Assad's Syrian forces are depleted and demoralized from casualties and the long fight, Assad needs fresh foreigners to spearhead is drives.
But there aren't that many foreigners. They can clear but they can't hold.
So we'll see if Assad's Syrian troops and militias can defend the ground taken by the foreign Shia fighters.
