Erstellt am: 2. 8. 2012 - 15:05 Uhr

A shift in military might in Syria

Reality Check: How the Free Syria Army is upping its fire power and Egypt's new cabinet is announced

Reports coming out of Syria suggest that there could be a major shift taking place on the ground that could have wide reaching implications for the eventual outcome.

A journalist for the Guardian newspaper, who managed to get close to the rebels, say that they are not only getting access to heavy weaponry, including surface to air missiles, but they are also receiving help and support from Al Qaeda operatives. That Al Qaeda fighters are among the rebel forces is nothing new. The Syrian state news agencies have been saying that for a long time. This is part of their definition of the rebels as "terrorists", and in fact no one is denying that there is an Al Qaeda element among the anti-Assad forces.

What is new, is the news that these elements are bringing an expertise to the battle that was previously lacking. While many Syrian men will have done some sort of national service and had some basic military training, they have little experience of the type of urban warfare now raging across the country. Al Qaeda fighters who have spent many years wreaking havoc in Iraq have just the skills, particularly in explosives, that the Syrian rebels need.

The Guardian's Middle East editor, Ian Black, explains the significance of these developments both for the current conflict and the balance of power in a post-conflict Syria.

Egypt is swearing in a new cabinet today, despite the fact that the country currently doesn't have a parliament. President Mohammed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, took office at the end of June, and last week named Hesham Kandil, a relative novice as far as politics are concerned, as prime minister. It's the first government of President Morsi, and there has been much scepticism about where is loyalties lie and how he will handle the country. So far, it appears he won't appoint many ministers from the Muslim Brotherhood, apparently in response to concerns that the Brotherhood would try to dominate the administration. Egypt correspondent and analyst, Sammy Khamis reviews the choices and what they mean for the future of Egypt.

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