MESOP SYRIA INSIGHT TODAY

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he is “sure of victory” in what he referred to as a “battle against terrorism” and the fiercest barbaric war in modern history. Assad addressed Syrian troops Thursday on the army’s 68th anniversary, in a speech broadcast by Syria’s state news agency SANA. He told the soldiers he has confidence in their ability to “fulfill the national mission that has been assigned to you.” President of the Syrian National Coalition Ahmad al-Jarba has hardened his positionon negotiations with the Syrian regime saying the opposition would not hold talks with Assad or “his clique” and would not begin negotiations unless the military situation is positive for opposition fighters.

On Wednesday, the Syrian government agreed to allowU.N. investigatorsto visit three sites of alleged chemical weapons attacks, including Khan al-Assal, near Aleppo. The Syrian government had originally requested a probe into the attack on the village, but maintained the investigation be restricted to that site. The United Nations did not disclose the locations of the other two sites, but they are believed to be near Homs and Damascus. According to the United Nations — Syria, Britain, France, and the United States have reported 13 suspected chemical weapons attackssince the beginning of the Syrian conflict. The team of investigators is slated to travel to Syria “as soon as possible.”