Report: U.S., Allies Mulling Military Intervention in Syria

The Obama administration and its allies are engaged in serious discussions about potential military involvement in Syria, The Washington Post quoted officials as saying.

“Possibilities include directly arming opposition forces, sending troops to guard a humanitarian corridor or “safe zone” for the rebels, or an air assault on Syrian air defenses,” according to the officials from the U.S. and other nations opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

“But the governments remain deeply divided over the scope of any intervention, how and when it would happen, and who would participate,” the officials told The Washington Post.

To the anger of Arab and Western governments, Syrian allies Russia and China have twice used their powers as permanent members of the Security Council to veto resolutions condemning Damascus’ brutal crackdown on protestors.

Talks on a new U.S.-led attempt to agree a resolution have hit a dead end, although U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet on Monday in New York.

Russia and China say the Western nations only want a resolution to back regime change.

Russia wants any resolution to call equally on the government and opposition groups to halt the violence. The Western members say the security force assault and attacks by opposition groups cannot be put at the same level.