Publication

This chart contrasts the statements made by the leaders of the US, Australia, France, Germany, the UK, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and Russia about Syrian president Bashar al-Assad before and after media reports of Russia’s military intervention in Syria in September 2015. The authors contend that the contrast in the statements before and after the reports show how several leaders softened their stance towards Assad's regime following the intervention. This, in turn, suggests that the intervention has undermined the US goal of reaching a negotiated political solution in Syria in which Assad is not in power.