Assad's Forces Claim Victory

The Obama administration has reportedly abandoned diplomacy in Syria and is instead increasing aid sent to the rebels—but will not be arming them, American officials told The New York Times. An activist released an estimate that 19,000 people have died in Syrian fighting as bloodshed worsened in the city of Aleppo on Sunday, while President Bashar al-Assad's forces claimed to have retaken three Damascus suburbs early Monday morning. The counter-offensive dashed the Free Syrian Army's hopes to take the capital. Helicopter gunships were deployed against rebels in Damascus, the capital city where fighting has intensified in recent days.