BATTLE FOR DAMASCUS - Operation Epic - Day 2. Assad's Counter-attack has begun

0 because this fight ain't worth it. All the rebel factions and Assad are pack of assholes for all their atrocities.

The fight ain't worth shit until there is a popular, moderate and competent alternative to rule the country

I would say 6 or 7, not because it's rel big fight, but because it happens in Damascus.
That means that lot of troops must be kept there, i.e. they cannot be used around the country.
It also means that Assad cannot seriously plan something against Israel.
Last, it burns lot of resources, weapons, fuel, ammunitions; how and when Assad resupplies?

What about in terms of.... how likely is this conflict going to escalate, possibly lead to larger conflict, involving more countries, etc., etc.?

On the same scale, 2 or 3 at most.
Assad id stuck there, and to move outside would mean two fronts at least, and he can barely afford one.
Hezbollah is not very different, with the potential for the same internal conflict in Lebanon and the need to keep substantial resources in Syria.
The external supporters of FSA by one side and Russia on the other have no interest at all to spread the fire, only costs and no gain.
There is only one possibility, Iran, who is the unknown in this equation.

Iran is why I said 2 o 3 and not 1 or less.
But the number is low just the same, they know that they risk an all-out war in the area, and they are not so stupid, at least I hope

I wonder how the rebels on the ground feel about their top level leaders opening offices in NY and DC and their 'involvement' is to ask for a seat at the UN and run the country from there.

(in part)
Syria's opposition coalition is seeking to take the country's U.N. seat from President Bashar Assad's government, its new U.S. representative said Wednesday.

Syrian National Council leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib has also received an invitation from the U.S. government to visit Washington and could seek meetings with top U.N. officials, coalition envoy Najib Ghadbian told Agence France Presse.

"The Assad regime has lost its legitimacy, so we have the goal of taking over the Syrian seat at the U.N.," Ghadbian said, while acknowledging that it would be a "long legal and political battle."
[link to www.naharnet.com]

Report: Syrian complex struck by Israel was built by North Korea

[link to www.worldtribune.com]

Russia not protecting Syria, but preventing attack on Iran – Zhirinovsky

The outspoken leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) has said that the crisis in Syria is just the next phase in the run up to an attack on Iran.

Zhirinovsky, accompanying State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin on a visit to France, commented that Syria itself is “not really a point of interest for outside forces.”

What is of importance, he argued, is that Syria, where a militant opposition is engaged in a protracted fight against forces loyal to President Bashar Assad, serves as yet another “corridor into Iran.”

[link to rt.com]

a little history lesson for you: DB's avatar is Claudius Ptolemäus, he was one of the best known astrologers and astronomers.....don't know what you mean with christian religious figure

Its not Christian - its a Renaissance man.

Dumb ass = ban

Doorbert, I agree, AC should be banned for being a dumbass. I am a dumbass too, but, I pay my way...lol.

The interim objective.

[link to www.globalsecurity.org]

After that, the world.

Much thanks for another pin LJS!!

Agree with you. No good guys here.

He's now sitting in the corner for a few days, with a booger stuck to the end of his nose.

10+

this is currently the only important armed conflict in the world and will decide the complexion of what comes next in the world.

the Assad regime is not natural...and when it falls the flood gates are fully open.

yes that is true... but our doorbert is promoting his master propaganda... Doorbert serves the Ottoman with the Mustache.

And they are not gone stop until Tel Aviv and beyond... the Mongols have a Dream... a dream to rule the world.

Is he holding a Menorah?

Feels like Groundhog Day at this point. Get over with it already - personally I can't wait for all of them to kill each other, non deserve to be in power, except the people of Syria who are the only victims in this madness.

people say, the fact that there are that less tweets and videos from rebels today is because they are getting hit by assad forces very hard

I think it's Copernicus.

Hey,if thats the battle started on videos posted then its going be a long war,all i can see are some men hiding.

10+ + ...but maybe is a trap..and then the gates

Is this just an update of prior UK travel warnings or completely different compared to prior UK travel warnings?

guess it's a new warning, bbc breaking news tweeted it
[link to twitter.com (secure)]