but instead of wiping each other off the battlefield they've been delicately

dancing around each other

up until now Assad and ISIS have been tactically avoiding each other

choosing instead to focus on eliminating the rebel opposition

ahead of a possible final showdown. It's a confrontation that's coming

and both sides know it. Assad and ISIS have yet to really collide

that's because they've seen the mutual benefit in crushing the rebel opposition

first

for Assad eliminating these rebel groups could secure his legitimacy

because that would leave the world with the choice between Assad or ISIS

this is also leave the US and its allies without any groups to support on the

ground

thus reducing the risk of possible military intervention against the regime

it's also a matter of priorities, ISIS is occupying areas that Assad's forces have

already largely withdrawn

mostly in northern Syria. The rebels on the other hand are fighting for Syria's

industrial and commercial cities

like Aleppo, Idlib, Homs, and Damascus

these cities are vital to the regime's security

ISIS on the other hand, they want to dominate the opposition

and incorporate them into their own movement - that's because eventually

ISIS is going to have to take on Assad's government - and they want the battlefield

clear of other potential competitors

ISIS does not view the rebels as natural allies

because they both have fundamentally different goals - the rebels main goal is

to remove Assad from power

and establish a new state and its place - ISIS on the other hand wants to

continue expanding to at least the Mediterranean

while consolidating its gains in defensive positions. They know if they

over stretch they'll be vulnerable to rebel counterattacks from the North

ISIS says "it wants Assad gone"

but if ISIS was really interested in fighting the regime

they would have gone to Aleppo a city besieged by Assad's forces

instead they chose to fight for Kobani - where there is no syrian army presence

these developments are nothing new to the rebels they've been squeezed between

the two for some time now

and groups that have cooperated with the US have had the most severe punishment

between furious strikes from Assad to remove any potential allies to the West

and Islamic factions trying to steal their equipment and money

have left some rebel groups

shadows of their former selves - Signs are emerging that the final showdown may

soon be approaching

in the past several weeks Assad's forces have been stepping up their attacks

against ISIS

this could be for a couple reasons First is for political reasons

Assad needs to boost his legitimacy in the face of a Western Coalition

battling ISIS would quell any rumors that the two are working together

and solidify a size larger than its him vs the terrorists

possibly the only choice I'd be in his favor second is for strategic reasons

Assad is exploiting the us-led war against I says

the regime things that now is the best time to attack I says

because they're distracted in Iraq and says the US is destroying them from the

air

a site has a chance to open up a two-front war against I sis

aside also hope this leads to some sort of military

coordination between him and the US which reduces the gym a scene

and finally a site has largely avoided I says because he wanted to let them fight

each other

and they have ices has weighed out rivals and its territory

and played a major role in breaking the Free Syrian Army know their roles coming

to an end

and the regime wants to dislodge ices from key positions before its

consolidated

such as a top by air base and a rock a province

ice is also knows a confrontation is coming

and has begun preparations we're seeing heavy equipment

tanks trucks artillery being moved from Iraq to Syria

the us-led airstrikes could also be prompted this

even also seeking cease-fires with rebels opposition forces

this could be in an effort to clear the battlefield and build coalitions

be realize the benefit of having partners after they were defeated at

kabbani

they're not going prepare for Assad and redirect those resources

the front lines are beginning to shift now that the Syrian army as close as

siege around a little