The Russian and Chinese veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to violence in Syria calls into question the viability of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine and poses a dilemma for the Obama administration, says CFR's Stewart Patrick.

Amid increasing fears of a civil war in Syria following the failure of the UN Security Council resolution, analysts remain divided over the question of intervention and how best to address the crisis.

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.

Max Boot says U.S. leadership is needed to galvanize a coalition for effective action against the Assad regime in Syria.

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.

Elliott Abrams discusses the Arab League's recent sanctions against Syria.

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.

CFR's Robert Danin says the Arab League's move to suspend Syria opens the door for greater action by the international community.

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.