As Assad’s options narrow, he’s growing increasingly belligerent. While the areas under his control boil, his government decides to increase the price of fuels for the second time in just two weeks. A liter of octane 95 petrol, for example, rose 47% (10,000 → 14,700 SYP).

Assad is confident in his grip on power—he might well be proven wrong.

More on the living conditions in Syria in my interview for NPR.