Yet the confusing signals sent by US diplomats over the weekend indicate the sole superpower is not yet ready for a big change in its Syria policy. Since the crisis broke out four years ago, Washington has tried everything to topple Assad. The US, along with its allies in the West and the Middle East, has provided all possible support, funds and, in particular, weapons, to the opposition forces in Syria in the hope of helping topple the Assad government.

The rampant march of the IS group in Syria (and Iraq), however, changed the political atmosphere in the region last year. The ousting of Assad is no longer the focal point now that Washington and Damascus are fighting a common enemy, even if they don't trust each other.

Last year was the darkest in the Syria conflict, because the country plunged deeper into civil war and terrorism. According to the UN, the conflict has claimed more than 220,000 lives and pushed 80 percent of the Syrian people into poverty since 2011.

It is no longer a secret that Western support to Syria's opposition forces has in one way or another led to profligacy of weapons and helped the emergence of extremists groups, especially the IS, in the region. The IS group poses a serious threat not only to Syria, but also to the region and the world as a whole.

To prevent the Syrian crisis from crossing into another year, Washington needs to do some soul-searching and change its Middle East policy, because by continuing to place bets on "vetted" and "moderate" rebels and refusing to hold direct talks with Assad it will only worsen the Syrian crisis and thwart the fight against the IS.

The author is a senior writer with China Daily

wanghui@chinadaily.com.cn