The gathering storm over Syria is getting increasingly alarming. Three key figures in Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle were assassinated and one of them was a close family member. What caused the violence is not clear. What is clear is that Assad’s security system has developed cracks. The regime’s only response to the sense of insecurity can be greater violence—air attacks and at a pinch, use of chemical weapons. Jordan which has felt the heat of Syrian violence is apprehensive about it. The killings have caused serious repercussions outside the country. The suspicion that al-Qaida is behind this outrage has put western powers in a tizzy. They are in a dilemma about whether to start military intervention or to continue providing secret help to the rebels. But secret help to the rebels is now considered debatable, with al-Qaida suspected to have stepped in and Taliban infection a possibility.
The fact which is indisputable is that Russia will not support further western efforts to oust the Assad regime which can now take a high moral stand. The rivals within the inner circle may now be unified. The attack on the Syrian President’s inner circle may also bring together his defenders such as Iran, Russia and China. The UN Security Council resolution has been deferred. The discord between western powers and Arab allies may widen. US Defence Secretary Leon E Penetta has said that Syria is rapidly spinning out of control. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for Assad’s removal. Will military intervention in Syria be unavoidable?