DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian regime’s advancement in Daraa, Aleppo and rural Latakia, among other areas, confirms the Russian intervention in Syria has changed the balance of power in favor of the regime.

As opposition forces have failed to deter the regime’s attacks in Daraa province, hopes are hanging on a cease-fire truce announced following a US-Russian agreement approved Feb. 23 by the Syrian regime. The truce, which is to be implemented starting Feb. 27, could be a prelude to ending the military conflict and launching a political solution that would solve the Syrians’ crisis, observers say.

But despite their losses, opposition forces said as late as Feb. 21 that they planned to continue fighting.

On Jan 26, the regime's forces gained control over the town of Sheikh Miskin under heavy cover from Russian aircraft. On Feb. 5, they captured the critical town of Atman on the old Damascus-Daraa international highway. This advancement on two fronts also tightened the regime’s noose on Dael and Abtaa on the international highway. It seemed possible after all for the regime to control the entire international road leading to the Jordanian borders.