#Syria. Might Assads loss of control of Syria come not from military defeat, but from financial armageddon? Syrias foreign reserves have fallen from around 18 billion in 2011 to around 3-5 Billion USD now according to the FT. Its economy has collapsed so little tax is being paid. Iran is providing cash and the regime there considers Assad survival a priority, but even Iranian cashflow is under pressure from their own domestic issues. Sanctions mean little oil revenues plus ISILs takeover of oilfields means millions more lost in revenue. Meanwhile Assad has to provide support to his loyalists with food, energy, medicines etc. So what has Assad done? Hes abandoned those areas that are hostile to him or that he considers lost and is spending regime cash on his significantly reduced part of the country, according to experts. But with this war dragging on, can his loyal areas survive even in diminished form? The coalition airstrikes have given him breathing room, the army remains the biggest fighting force. The endgame now seems to be the survival of Assadastan, and the division of Syria amongst whoever is left standing. Thoughts?
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 20:37:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015