Syrian Notes, June 27

Remember the smoldering conflict I described as a low-intensity civil war back in March? Well, other people are beginning to agree with me. (Bashar al-Assad, for one.) The situation shows no sign of improving; Assad remains defiant, Russia still supports him, anti-government forces are still resisting, Homs is still being shelled (watch here), the West is still putting “pressure” on the government and there’s still no end in sight. (And Jadaliyya is still providing some of the best information and analysis.)