How Syria rebels’ stars aligned for Assad’s ouster

After 13 years of civil war, Syria’s opposition militias sensed an opportunity to loosen President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on power when, about six months ago, they communicated to Turkey plans for a major offensive and felt they had received its tacit approval, two sources with knowledge of the planning said.

Launched barely two weeks ago, the operation’s speedy success in achieving its initial goal – seizing Syria’s second city, Aleppo