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Five reasons why Syria may be at a tipping point

4. FSA’s seizures along Iraqi/Turkish borders

  • By Arthur Bright Correspondent

Border control is one of the core functions of any government – and the Assad regime is reportedly struggling to maintain its own. Rebel forces seized control of all four of Syria’s posts along its border with Iraq, as well as one post along the Syria-Turkey border, reports The New York Times.  An Iraqi official, speaking anonymously to the Times, said that Iraqi border forces confirmed that the posts were closed, and said they had seen Free Syrian Army personnel execute regime soldiers.
 
Video posted online also showed rebels in possession of at least one border crossing between Syria and Turkey. In the video, rebels destroyed portraits of President Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad, that adorned the posts.  

However, Turkish journalist Mehmet Aksakal reports that the Syrian Army has regained control of the crossing at Bab al-Hawa after driving the rebels back. However, he notes that the Syrian military presence is thin, so the post could fall again, according to the Guardian.

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Mark Sappenfield
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