Syria decoded: What’s next for the region?
A Syrian flag hangs over a statue of the late president Hafez al-Assad on Aug. 30, 2011, near Homs. Alawites have ruled Syria since Hafez seized power in 1970.
On Monday, US President Barack Obama stated that the movement or use of chemical weapons inside Syria would be a "red line" for possible US military involvement in the conflict.
"We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized," Obama told reporters during a press conference, according to a transcript of his remarks. "That would change my calculus. That would change my equation."
The fighting has reached a tipping point and the region is in complete unrest. GlobalPost's Middle East Editor Peter Gelling offers some insight into the possibility of intervention and what could happen next.
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.