FSA and rebel successes

"Rebel leaders concede that they may have been premature in sending their fighters to attack the regime’s forces in Damascus and Aleppo. Crimes by the rebels, some of whom have killed captives in cold blood, has become commoner. Salafist and jihadist groups, espousing a more sectarian attitude to the conflict, have become more prominent, causing unease among the rebels. Suicide-bombings, such as one on October 9th claimed by Jabhat an-Nusra, the most prominent jihadist group, have become more frequent. Civilians who at first had no truck with the Assad regime have become warier of the rebels. There has been less sign recently that civilian and military loyalties are shifting decisively in the rebels’ favour."