Talk of the possible military intervention in Syria by the US and France overshadows the upcoming discussions between world leaders at the annual G20 summit in St. Petersburg.
Aid agencies responding to the Syrian crisis are updating contingency plans and pre-positioning stocks, warning that any US-led military action against Syria could lead to an increase in humanitarian needs.
US President Barack Obama has won the backing of key political figures from across the aisle in the US for his plans for a military strike on Syria.
Through history there have been attempts to establish rules of engagement. And an agreement that chemical weapons shouldn’t be used is a long-standing one. Nevertheless, many countries had these weapons until very recently. And others no doubt have them hidden.
As the U.S. Congress prepares to debate military action against the Syrian regime, rebel commanders and fighters on the ground say that it would take a decisive strike to aid them in their fight.