it's been a dramatic turn. it's now looking like assad will outlast president obama. something most of us thought was unthinkable just a few years ago. >> there are obviously still pockets of resistance throughout syria, but the fact that aleppo is in complete control of the government seems to suggest that he will hold on to power. >> there is no question. you can't underestimate the importance of eastern aleppo. for more than four years since the rebels took hold in the eastern part of the city it was their base of operations. they directed operations out of there, they had communications. they with activists in touch with people across the city and in fact around the world. what happens when you take that base away? what happens to the revolution? we know they're now in the countryside and a province called idlib. idlib also has a strong isis presence and a strong al qaeda presence. these are groups that have all been fighting each other in this kind of weird mess of syria's