An advisor to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said the six-year war is nearly over as foreign states cut backing for rebels, and vowed the government would confront any "illegitimate" forces, whether Turkish or American.
I don't think so. But it doesn't hurt to say it if it convinces enemies to give up.
Unless it harms the morale of supporters if the reality doesn't follow the claim. Hard to say.
Assad's forces are advancing lately, with the aid of Russia in the west and with the aid of America in the east (by filling a vacuum as Syrian forces we back defeat ISIL), and with Hezbollah's and Iran's aid generally.
But Assad has a long way to go to win and he has suffered heavy losses to get even this far.
And the price Syria will have to pay to get the predicted victory (if Assad gets it) may get us a new picture in the dictionary next to the entry for "Pyrrhic victory."
