Rebel groups in Syria say they believe the killing of three members of President Assad's high command in Damascus is the beginning of the end for his regime.

Nadim Shehadi, associate fellow at Chatham House, says that President Assad's power was based "on us not being able to see beyond him."

Speaking to the Today programme he explains that the Syrian regime would "contribute to problems and then offer to solve them" a tactic he says which is "failing" because the "game is now exposed".

Dore Gold, former Israeli ambassador to the UN, told John Humphrys that he believes there are "great powers" emerging in the Middle East that now have interests in Syria, such as Iran.

"All of us would like to see a stable regime emerge... we would like to see a new reality," he told the programme.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.