In recent weeks, Syrian President Bashar Assad has been stepping up attacks on rebel forces throughout Syria. Analysts have noted a sudden increase in the number of airstrikes carried out by Assad’s air force. In mid-October, there was one instance where more than 200 airstrikes occurred in 36 hours.

The increase sheds light not only on Assad’s short-term plan to finally defeat many of the smaller rebel factions, but also on his plans to gain victory over the more dangerous factions such as Islamic State. It is all about leaving himself as the only alternative.

The increase in airstrikes has coincided perfectly with the international effort to halt the expansion of Islamic State and cripple it with airstrikes. While Islamic State is busy fighting the coalition, Assad finds himself with more time to deal with other rebel factions. This isn’t an opportunity he will waste.

Assad must assume that eventually attention will come back to his war against his own people—much like it was before Islamic State became a dominant problem in the region. With that attention will come threats of international retaliation. It is therefore better for Assad to deal with the rebels now while the world is distracted.

This is Assad’s short-term game plan: to secure his position while the world isn’t looking. Assad is using the bombardment of Islamic State as an opportunity to deal a heavy blow to all Syria’s rebel factions. Aside from the immediate desire to crush the rebels, however, he also has a long-term game plan in mind.

At the moment, there are three main power plays in Syria. First, there is Assad and his current regime, which clings to power in Damascus as well as large portions of the south and west. Second, there are the “moderate” rebels—groups such as the Free Syria Army—that have the aid and backing of Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia. The Western nations have also toyed with the idea of arming such groups, but have so far only given non-military aid. Finally, you have the larger extremist groups such as Islamic State and, to a lesser degree, al Nusra. These groups are the ones currently being bombarded by the United States and its allies.

Assad is trying to reduce the power play down to two groups. He wants the scenario of Assad versus Islamic State. He knows the U.S. would never agree to arm either side, and would therefore likely stay out of any future confrontations.

Working against him is the current international coalition against Islamic State. It too is working to reduce the Syrian power play down to two parties. It wants it to be moderate rebels versus Assad. This is not a good outcome for Assad because if it does come down to the two groups, the “moderate” rebels stand a far greater chance of gaining international aid and support. The U.S. has already come close to conducting airstrikes against Assad and arming his enemies.

So now it is a race. Will the West effectively cripple Islamic State, or will Assad first defeat the other rebel factions? Either way, there are major power plays taking place in Syria. With all these options, factors and possibilities, it is vital that we remain anchored to solid and undeniable facts. Those are found in the Bible.

If you would like to know where events are leading in Syria and the Middle East as a whole, be sure to read Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s article “A Mysterious Prophecy.” This article explains Psalm 83 and the formation of the alliances that will soon shape the Middle East.