In Syria, battles continue between government troops and rebels in the city of Aleppo. Meanwhile, Iran hosted a meeting of Assad regime allies to discuss an end to the conflict.

Iran's foreign minister accuses rebels of kidnapping foreign nationals and using civilians as human shields. Last week, rebels seized a bus carrying nearly 50 Iranians including members of the Revolutionary Guard.

Col. Douglas MacGregor (U.S. Army, retired) offered analysis of Iran's growing role in the Syrian conflict on Capital Insider.