Orientalist Suren Manukyan expressed skepticism over President of Syria Bashar al-Assad’s ability to suppress interior unrest and retain power.

According to the expert, Bashar al-Assad may save the situation only if he manages to oust the opposition forces from major cities forcing them into a partisan war.

“Authorities will definitely have great advantage if guerilla war breaks out. Assad could settle the problem eight months ago. Now he can’t any longer,” Manukyan said.

The expert further noted that the West attaches great importance to solving the Syrian issue within the context of that of Iran, depriving the latter of its allies.