Syria: Assad has decisively won his brutal battle

Trump’s decision to pull US troops out leaves the opposition stranded

This year is ending on a note of triumph for the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Donald Trump has announced a rapid troop withdrawal from Syria, shocking everyone including his own generals and diplomats. Last week, the United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus, which it had closed as part of a campaign of multinational pressure against the regime in 2011. Bahrain followed suit and other countries, including Kuwait, are expected to re-establish ties in the coming year. The Arab League is reportedly poised to re-admit Syria, seven years after expelling it.

Related: Beyond Syria: the Arab Spring’s aftermath

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from World news | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2EW0mUz