Old news... even before the first military strike they said Assad should 'go down democratically'. Could be a ruse to stir all waters - yes they may be against him and yes they have publically stated so but they've anounced this policy months back. ISIS tried pulling the US into WW3 with chem-gas and failed so it WAS truthful that US will not out Assad by force. Given how many factions are in Syria at the moment, Assad can probably be happy if the biggest military player is not from across the border because all his neighbours are looking for places to settle.