After Syrian government forces changed their tactics about a year ago and began retaking areas which had been under rebel control in western Syria, a large number of rebels, especially those in radical Islamic groups, began to withdraw to northern Syria and to establish themselves there.
This withdrawal accelerated this spring as these new tactics took hold.
This resulted in multiple rebel groups being almost piled up on top of each other in this relatively small area and there have been many instances where rebel groups have battled each other for dominance in different areas in northern Syria.
Rebel groups, predominately radical Islamic rebel groups, have also been trying to seize the predominately Kurdish areas in northeastern Syria since last November.
About nine days ago, as news that President Obama was going to intervene in Syria spread, I began to hear that large and small battles were breaking out between different rebel groups near Idlib, north and east of Aleppo, in and near al-Raqqah, around Tel Abyad, and southeast of Deir ez-Zor, and I have heard new reports of clashes and battles every day since then.
Radical Islamic rebel groups have also intensified their attacks on the Kurdish areas in northeastern Syria during this time.
I have been told that some rebel groups felt that 'their time had come', that the intervention was going to bring about the end of Assad, so they had to establish their dominance among the rebels now, to be in a position to take over when he fell.
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I just saw the news in the Turkish media that the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister has stated that neither NATO, nor other countries or a 'Coalition of the Willing', seems to be prepared to take any measures against Syria, and that if measures are going to be taken, or if there is going to be a military intervention in Syria, it appears that it will be the US who will do so.