and an individual who has had extensive experience working with the syrian opposition, steve heydemann a vice president at the united states institute of peace. >> reporter: welcome all of you to the "newshour". robert ford to you first, where does this conflict stand today? does either side or any side have the upper hand? >> it's a long, grueling war of attrition. iran is sending in more forces. iran is sending in more arms. the opposition is receiving help from other outside states and the war just grinds on. i don't see any end in sight, at least in the near term. >> woodruff: hisham melhem, do you agree? >> absolutely. this could grind on for a number of years short of a decisive move on the part of the united states and regional allies. this could last a long time precisely because you don't have to opposing sides as in the american civil war or spanish civil war in the 20th century. this is becoming almost a war of all againstll as thomas hobbs used to say, and that is why it's extremely difficult to allow it to continue like that because this is going to touch the whole region,