US drones flying over Syria

US military UAVs are monitoring Bashar Assad’s ongoing crackdown against civilians and opposition forces from the skies above Syria.

According to anonymous sources cited by NBC, an undisclosed “good number” of surveillance drones are observing the conflict. The reconnaissance missions are not a preparation for military intervention, the Obama administration official claims. Instead, satellite imagery and intercepted communications will be used as fodder against the Assad regime in the campaign to impose sanctions and halt the violence.

American politicians are wary of military intervention in Syria, for, unlike Libya, the US lacks the broad international support a regime change would require. The Guardian quoted another anonymous American official, in reference to Iran: “The White House wants to see sanctions work. This is not the Bush White House. It does not need another conflict.” The same apparently goes for Syria.

Should the conflict continue, however, other nations might act independent of the US. Great Britain and France mentioned assisting Syrian opposition forces earlier this week, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has upped his rhetoric towards his southern neighbor. Erdoğan has demanded Assad’s resignation and has hinted at military intervention in Syria.

On Friday, Prime Ministers Cameron and Erdoğan discussed Syria and arranged a future meeting to address the ongoing conflict.

For now, however, the international community remains at a deadlock over Syria. China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution against Assad. And although the UN General Assembly voted 137-12 with 17 abstention in favor of condemning Assad and called for his resignation, unified action is not forthcoming.