With the passing of the twenty-ninth week, the extensive confrontation between the Syrian people and the ruling regime witnessed three highly important developments that will have profound impact on the crisis that Syria faces.
Since midsummer, the Syrian armed uprising has witnessed various signs of an approach to arms against security and army forces though this approach remained limited to small groups of Syrians that were driven by motives of revenge and anger. However, armed clashes that erupted since security and army forces attempted to storm Rastan on 27 September, and lasted four days, clearly indicate the significance of militarization in the Syrian popular uprising. As a matter of fact, the attacking forces were ultimately unable to storm the city until they mobilized hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles and forcefully destructed it and its residents' homes. Reports of opposition circles point out that the number of deaths exceeded a hundred.