Syrian troops reclaimed the ancient Christian town of Maaloula on Monday, the crowning jewel in a series of significant military gains that had the regime of President Bashar al-Assad crowing over its pending triumph even before the smoke cleared. MoreThe World Shrugs at Alleged Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria3 Journalists For Hezbollah TV Killed In SyriaMen Charged With Toppling Ancient Rock Formation Avoid Jail Time Huffington PostHere's An Updated Tally Of All The People Who Have Ever Died From A Marijuana Overdose Huffington PostDWTS Host Erin Andrews: I Dodge Fewer 'Snot Rockets' in this New Gig PeopleThe army’s swift capture of Maaloula came less than 24 hours after an Assad speech in which he claimed that the war, now in its fourth year, was going in the regime’s favor.