No Easy Peace.docVIP

No Easy Peace 　　Developments in Syria at the end of 2016 broke new ground. On December 23， the Syrian Government announced that it had gained full control of Aleppo， the country’s largest city and also the former major base of opposition forces. The retaking of Aleppo is seen as the government’s greatest triumph since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. With mediation by Russia and Turkey， the Syrian Government and some opposition factions also agreed on a new nationwide ceasefire on December 30， the third such cessation of hostilities in 2016. Furthermore， they agreed to hold a new round of peace talks in late January 2017 in Astana， capital of Kazakhstan. On the last day of 2016， the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the new ceasefire deal and the upcoming peace talks. 　　So， is the situation in Syria really on the brink of winding down after years of strife？ 　　Actually， every observer of Middle Eastern affairs is well aware that military means always provide the key to solving the region’s problems. The current developments in Syria derive from the just-concluded Aleppo battle. Once an economic hub， Aleppo in north Syria had been at the center of contention between government troops and rebel fighters since the outbreak of the civil war. From 2012 onward， the eastern part of the city was controlled by opposition forces. Beginning in July 2016， though， government troops started to gain ground with the assistance of Russian air power. After months of fierce fighting， the government army completed its encirclement of opposition forces last September and finally took full control of the city before the new year. 　　 Tilting the balance 　　The military victory in Aleppo means a lot for the Syrian Government led by President Bashar al-Assad. Politically， it can help the Assad administration consolidate its rule and boost domestic support. With the retaking of Aleppo， the Syrian Government now has full control of the count