A long, multi-sourced and linked article - the full title being 'Provocation and the Islamic State: Why Assad Strengthened the Jihadists' and from an author who is an observer or student of the Syrian Civil War: http://kyleorton1991.wordpress.com/2...the-jihadists/

His argument is that Assad has consistently followed a strategy of provocation, which is cited as:
simply means taking control of your enemies in secret and encouraging them to do things that discredit them and help you