The U.S. Department of State released this statement regarding the suspension of embassy operations in Syria on February 6, 2012.

President Obama gave this statement on Syria on February 4, 2012.

Ed Husain argues that Western military involvement in Syria would worsen violence, not end it, and could spread the conflict beyond Syria's borders.

A UN Security Council resolution calling for Syria's President Assad to step down faces stiff Russian opposition. Expert Andrew Tabler examines Russia's motives, Syria's internal fissures, and the prospects for ongoing violence.

Robert M. Danin outlines eight steps that the United States and other members of the international community could adopt to help Syria, well short of military action.

Steven A. Cook says that if the world wants to see the end of Bashar al-Assad, it will likely require international intervention.

Syria's regime appears increasingly isolated and erratic in response to civil unrest, posing a challenge to the Arab League to prevent a spread of conflict, says CFR's Robert M. Danin.

Micah Zenko says requests for humanitarian intervention by foreign governments and peoples happen all the time, and he examines why some requests are granted while others are ignored.

The increasing resort to violence signals the likely fall of Syria's Bashar al-Assad and could trigger shifts in the regional balance of power away from Iran, says former senior U.S. Mideast adviser Dennis Ross.

Robert M. Danin argues that the Arab League's recent emergence as a regional actor in the Middle East is a welcome development.

Syria is faced with an increasing number of international sanctions for its bloody crackdown against protesters. CFR's Mohamad Bazzi says the crises facing the regime are unprecedented, but the regime doesn't appear to be giving in.

The Syrian crisis has entered its most dangerous stage, says this International Crisis Group policy brief. The international community and Syrian opposition have largely been ignoring issues that must be addressed, including ties between Syria and Lebanon and the militarization of the protest movement.

The UN Human Rights Council issued this report on Syria on November 23, 2011. It states that "gross violations of human rights have been committed by Syrian military and security forces since the beginning of the protests in March 2011".

The Arab League's decision to suspend Syria if it fails to end its violence must be followed by economic and political sanctions, including trade and oil embargoes, say analysts.

Despite Syria's agreement to an Arab League-brokered peace deal, the Assad regime's continued repression of protests could lead to a civil war in the country and greater regional upheaval, say experts.

Randa Slim explains the varying perspectives of multiple Syrian opposition groups, including their disagreements on communicating with the Assad regime and foreign intervention.

CFR Senior Fellow Elliott Abrams argues that the United States should work to bring down Bashar al-Assad by isolating his regime from Syria's Alawite and business communities.

Micah Zenko argues that overreaching Western eagerness to help Libya's rebels will now make it more difficult to line up meaningful outside support for Syria's opposition.

The Security Council failed to adopt a resolution condemning human rights violations in Syria, owing to a veto by Russia and China.

Syria's upheaval has entered a new, perilous phase. Tougher regime crackdowns risk splintering the country into sectarian war, say experts, while debate over international action intensifies.