A number of military setbacks have weakened Bashar al-Assad's grip on power and called into question the the commitment of his external supporters (BBC, NBC News). In the event that Assad reportedly disappears or flees the capital, the administrator will observe a three week waiting period, at the end of which the question will close retroactively to the date of his disappearance or exodus. If Assad returns in the interim, the question will remain open. Recommended Questions Will Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff resign or be impeached before 1 April 2016? Will there be a new King of Saudi Arabia before 1 June 2016? This question was closed on "No" with an end date of 28 February 2017. _{See our FAQ to learn about how we resolve questions and how scores are calculated.}