Even though a ceasefire has (supposedly) been running for almost two months now there is still quite a lot of bloodshed. Yesterday came the most horrific attack since the ceasefire began on the 12th of April, 90 people were killed in a regime-backed massacre. Of those 90 people, 32 were children. The massacre has provoked international outrage and has caused fear that this may end the ceasefire, with a return to the hostilities commencing.
Although Syria has not been peaceful since the ceasefire began, the killings have been of a more sporadic nature and were nothing compared to the brutality of the fighting just days before the ceasefire began. The atrocity yesterday poses important questions for the international community about what to do about Syria, if the ceasefire isn't working - what can we do? A military intervention has been ruled out by most countries, including the West as well as Russia and China. Would tougher sanctions actually work?
The only other real option is arming the rebels, and that wouldn't be easy. Unlike in Libya when it was clear who the rebels actually were, in Syria it is difficult to know who the revolutionaries are. Although there is the Free Syrian Army, they are a secretive group and nobody knows who is in charge. The rebels also do not control a sizeable portion of the country like the Libyan revolutionaries did in Misrata and Benghazi and there are fears that they guns provided could be later turned on minority communities.
Whatever the answer to the Syrian crisis is, it won't be a simple one. But the international community must act soon if they want to prevent the butchering of more innocent Syrian civilians.
Although Syria has not been peaceful since the ceasefire began, the killings have been of a more sporadic nature and were nothing compared to the brutality of the fighting just days before the ceasefire began. The atrocity yesterday poses important questions for the international community about what to do about Syria, if the ceasefire isn't working - what can we do? A military intervention has been ruled out by most countries, including the West as well as Russia and China. Would tougher sanctions actually work?
The only other real option is arming the rebels, and that wouldn't be easy. Unlike in Libya when it was clear who the rebels actually were, in Syria it is difficult to know who the revolutionaries are. Although there is the Free Syrian Army, they are a secretive group and nobody knows who is in charge. The rebels also do not control a sizeable portion of the country like the Libyan revolutionaries did in Misrata and Benghazi and there are fears that they guns provided could be later turned on minority communities.
Whatever the answer to the Syrian crisis is, it won't be a simple one. But the international community must act soon if they want to prevent the butchering of more innocent Syrian civilians.
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