Closing in for the Kill

"Women and children jumped out of the cars and started running in fear", explained Hadi Abdullah from Qusair, with the convoy that tried to evacuate dozens of wounded people from the embattled, encircled and desperate town where the rebels are attempting to hold their own against the Hezbollah terrorists that have streamed across the border to the aid of the Syrian regime determined to retake this border town.

The convoy was attacked as it began the evacuation of wounded. As they attempted to exit the town to seek medical attention for those whom the conflict had victimized, rebel reinforcements began their infiltration into the besieged area, responding to the call to support the battle-exhausted rebels in their defence of the devastating offensive launched by the regime's military and their Hezbollah allies.

Hezbollah, despite the unexpected loss of many fighting men steeped in the traditions of Shiite Islam jihad, prepared to martyr themselves for the cause so much larger than themselves, but yet not quite anticipating death, has mourned their dead and finally, openly stated their full head-on engagement. Their intention, claimed their leader, was to support Syria in its just battle against the rebels, and to avoid drawing Lebanon into the spreading conflict.

How this genius of military design might conclude that the largest, most powerful, best equipped militia in Lebanon, which is itself riven with so many fractious elements and various militias representing the country, could slip into neighbouring Syria to fight the Sunni rebels and their Sunni jihadist partners, without drawing the rage of the very rebels they oppose, against Lebanese Shia in revenge, is beyond intelligent explanation.

Hundreds of wounded civilians remain in the town, unshielded from further assaults, bearing their wounds untreated by any medical aid, for there is none to be had. No doctors, no nurses, no drugs, no alleviation of their pain and suffering. They are, after all, in the rebel-held areas. Where the makeshift hospital and a home converted into a clinic were hit by military artillery. And Hezbollah feels Lebanon will be exempt from revenge attacks?

Both the regime and the opposition have an urgent need to hold Qusair, lying alongside a land corridor linking Damascus and an area along the Mediterranean coast to the Alawite stronghold. Regime troops managed to capture a village just outside Qusair, with all entrances leading to the town tightened. But the capture of Qusair eludes them.

The rebels need to hold Qusair to protect their supply route to Lebanon, a mere ten kilometres' distance.

While President al-Assad is comforted by the support his regime has received from Russia and Iran, the former an ongoing source of advanced arms, the latter of encouragement and Revolutionary Guards involvement, the rebels have welcomed support from Aleppo-based rebels. The rebels have held onto Qusair for the past year, it would represent a catastrophic loss for them and perhaps a turning point for the regime to see it fall into their hands.

Russia's plans to provide MiG warplanes in a new agreement to ship ten fighter jets to Syria, perhaps even more, provides an additional pick-me-up for the Alawite regime, basking in pleasure at its recent successes, after seeming to fare so poorly under the rebel attacks. Both the United States and Germany deplore Russia's aggressive moves to benefit the Syrian regime.

Another offensive has been opened by the regime's troops around Aleppo with the intention of lifting a siege imposed by the rebels on the towns of Nobol and Zahraa, predominantly Shiite, loyal to the government. There too, rebels are flowing into the area to bring along further reinforcements.

Checkmate. For the time being.