Syria’s Assad says he will not step down, but…

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)

Syria’s President Assad says he will not step down:

March 03, 2013

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he is ready to negotiate with the opposition, but will absolutely not step down as the country’s leader.

In a rare interview, Assad told Britain’s Sunday Times that any notion his continued role as president is linked to the nearly two-year conflict that has torn the country apart is “absurd.” He said “other recent precedents in Libya, Yemen and Egypt bear witness to this.” http://www.voanews.com/content/assad-will-not-step-down/1614181.html

Bashar Assad told the Sunday Times that he will not step down or go into exile. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/02/assad-remain-power-2014/1959527/

Syria’s Assad can make claims, but making them happen is another matter. On the other hand, his regime is having some military success at the moment, and its ally Iran continues to back him:

March 3, 2013

DAMASCUS, Syria – Iran and Syria condemned a U.S. plan to assist rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad on Saturday and signaled the Syrian leader intends to stay in power at least until 2014 presidential elections.

The remarks came against the backdrop of a strategic victory for the regime as the military regained control over a string of villages along a key highway to open a potential supply route in Syria’s heavily contested north.

The army command boasted of the achievement in a statement, saying it had eradicated the remnants of “terrorist agents and mercenaries” in the area that links the government-controlled central city of Hama with Aleppo’s international airport.

The reversal of gains, confirmed by Syrian activists, has the potential to change the outcome of the battle in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city where government troops and rebels have been locked in a stalemate for months. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/03/syria-iran-say-assad-to-remain-in-power-till-2014/#ixzz2MUJVg6KQ

In Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood is basically in opposition to the Assad regime there. Since the Bible suggests that Syria will support the coming final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8) and a change in or from the Assad regime will be necessary for this to happen–and it will come to pass. Syria’s Assad will either change, break his commitment to not step down or go into exile, or die.

Now, the Muslim Brotherhood is mainly a Sunni Muslim group, while Syria’s President Assad is Shi’a Muslim. Iran, President Assad’s closest ally, is mainly Shi’a Muslim. The Shiites may wish to stick together, but Syria simply will not remain led by Shiites unless the Sunnis switch their faith (not very likely).

Now, partially because of the internal civil war in Syria, if it escalates too much more, Syria’s President Assad may decide that attacking Israel, probably in conjunction with support from Iran, is his best carnal option (which could include supporting Iran if it attacks Israel or Israel attacks it). Attacking Israel, however, will not be his best option (he should repent and probably leave office), though he may do that.

More trouble is coming to Syria. Damascus (Syria’s capital) will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

An Islamic confederation that will include the land of Syria is coming (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:4-8) is coming. Statements from President Assad and Iran will not change that.

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?