Neither side has gained any considerable ground, but nearly 2,000 people have died since the regime-led offensive began in early May. For every regime advance into a strategic town, a counterattack pushes them back while a counter-offensive diverts thinly stretched troops to a different part of the frontline.
But what’s happening behind the closed doors of Russian, Turkish and Iranian diplomatic offices could be determining the outcome of the battle.
While regime forces and Turkey-backed rebels fight each other, Turkey is providing arms to the rebels and may be using the battle to force Syria back to the negotiating table for a ceasefire. Russia, meanwhile, may be using the conflict to solidify its influence over the Assad regime and pressure Turkey to follow through with its purchase of the controversial missile defense system, the S-400, experts tell Al Bawaba.
Global News 
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