Symptomatically, even the conservative Arab and other Arabic-language media, including Al-Watan, have acknowledged that Mrs Clinton’s expectations on an early fall of the Assad regime have failed to materialize, with the Assad-led Syrian government continuing to gain ground.

Importantly, the government offensive in the Qusayr area was backed by a popular militia.

The Voice of Russia heard about this from Syrian Brigadier General Muhammed Issa:

“Throughout the two years of the terrorist rebellion, the Syrian army has been backed from the rear by a numerous popular militia. These units enforce security and protect vital installations and population centers.”

The opposition hates and dreads them, branding their valiant volunteer fighters ‘Shabiha’, or ghosts.

General Issa again:

“These volunteers help the army by holding the entire home front. There are lots of women in their ranks. They spare no effort to protect their home villages and city neighbourhoods from terrorism. At present, thousands of militia fighters are helping the army to mop up rebel resistance in the entire El-Guta valley, where many suburbs of Damascus sit.”

Cairo’s Al-Ahram has called attention to the fact that for the first time in modern history, the battle of Al-Qusayr pitched masses of Sunni Sharia warriors from across the Muslim world against a coalition of pro-Shia forces, which included Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

This is what general Issa has to say:

“Hezbollah volunteers are also helping the Syrian army defend Homs and Damascus. Why should we reject their help? Indeed, there are not that many Syrians on the opposition side. The rebel forces mostly consist of Saudis, Qataris, Turks and even European Jihadists”.

Read more: http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_05_24/Syria-Assad-government-backed-by-popular-militia/