The Wall Street Journal reports a shocking twist in Syria’s civil war.

New revelations point to a startling theory about the bombing that killed Assef Shawkat, an army general who was Mr. Assad’s brother-in-law and the deputy defense minister: It was an inside job.

Two dozen people, including past and current regime officials, opposition leaders, activists and rebels, and politicians in neighboring countries with ties to Mr. Assad told The Wall Street Journal the bombing grew out of a split between the Assad family and its hard-line allies on one side, and officials seeking negotiations with opposition groups on the other.

Assad used the bombing to as a rallying cry and an excuse to escalate the conflict.

Assad

This is another example of the lengths politicians will go in order to hang onto power.