But some things are different this week as a cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia took effect. Meanwhile, the factions fighting Assad are beset by competing agendas and visions for a future Syria. Gradually Sunni Islamists have overshadowed the original "moderates" of the Free Syria Army and its splinter groups. RESTRAINING ASSAD'S MILITARYIn accepting the cease-fire, Assad vowed to recover all the land he lost in the war. Philip Issa is a reporter based in AP's Beirut bureau, which oversees coverage of the war in Syria.

Source: ABC News September 14, 2016 21:22 UTC