While Syria, Russia and Iran solidify their military relationships, embattled
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Before going into the family business Pencilneck was an eye doctor. If he'd stuck with it he'd have had a good practice by now...
may be about to lose another key ally in his fight against rebel groups including the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling
Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not
reallyMoslems....
, according to Lebanese reports on Monday.
Hezbollah has been actively involved in Syria's civil war with troops on the ground fighting for the Assad regime, but the organization has informed the Syrian government that it will no longer take part in offensive military action, according to diplomatic sources who spoke to the Daily Star.
According to the report, Hezbollah is now expected to participate only in defensive actions after a battle currently being fought for the city of Al-Zabadani, some 45 kilometers from Damascus, is completed.
Even with the direct support of Iran and Russia, losing Hezbollah's offensive capabilities would be a serious blow to the Assad regime, which has suffered a string of losses for the past several months as government forces have found themselves on the back foot against the Islamic State and other rebels.
Current assessments suggest that Hezbollah is less than likely to entirely abandon the Syrian government, but perhaps Russia's increased involvement was, in part, meant to coincide with Hezbollah's decreased activity.
Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, the enormous newt was trying to decide if Gloria was edible...
Hezbollah appears to be dealing with internal struggles. Kuwaiti news source Al Rai reported Tuesday morning that the organization tossed in the clink
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
one of its members accused of spying for a Western nation.
According to the report, the individual worked at a Hezbollah-run hospital in Beirut.
Hezbollah was said to be investigating the amount of damage done by the infiltration. No official sources confirmed the report, but the arrested individual was said to be privy to sensitive information including the details of maimed and dead fighters in the organization.