(Image source: Al Jazeera ) BY NATHAN BYRNE ANCHOR LOGAN TITTLE Both NATO and Syrian ally, Russia, are saying the Bashar al-Assad regime is near collapse. Analyst David Hartwell tells the BBC the remarks stem from “anecdotal evidence” over the past few weeks. “The opposition are indeed holding, or taking and holding much more territory. And posing a much more, now, concerted threat to the regime.” The New York Times says , “ Russia has acted as Syria’s principal international shield … ” and “Only in recent days has Russia’s view seemed to shift … ” Despite what sounds like a change of heart from a key ally, one CNN correspondent notes …     “They’re not calling for Assad to resign. They’re still calling on a political transition that includes him. And they are not giving any signal that they will stop vetoing U.N. Security Council resolutions that will sanction Syria.” Sky News Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall suggests Russia’s deputy foreign minister has made comments in the past that, in turn, made noise. “He was the man who, in August, said that President Assad was about to stand down. World headlines ensued. He didn’t actually say that. He said, ‘there may come a time’ and ‘after an election’ and ‘blah, blah, blah.’” Do the suggestions have merit when NATO echoes the sentiments of Syria’s supporters? Here’s Al Jazeera . “NATO’s secretary general also says President Assad’s government is close to collapse. At a meeting in Brussels, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it’s only a matter of time.” If that time comes, writers for The Washington Post suggest Russia’s next move will be to get Russians living in Syria out of the country.