Western Nations Lean Away From Syria Attack

Prime Minister Cameron at Parliament

A western attack on Syria has at least been delayed, if not put off completely.

Britain's Parliament voted by thirteen votes not to have military action against Syria. Prime Minister Cameron does not require Parliament to vote, before going to war, but without their backing he would likely lose his government.

Within hours of the British vote, France announced that they would be waiting for the UN to come to a conclusive decision on the matter. However, both countries continue to move military assets into position, in case a strike is ordered.

The UN is waiting for the inspectors to finish their investigation and then return to give their findings to the Security Council. Such a presentation might not take place until late next week.

Bolstered by Britain and France backing down, Russia and Iran reiterated that they will standby their Syrian ally. Towards this, Russia continued moving naval forces into the Mediterranean.

By Thursday evening, the US had backed down from their stance of complete surety that Assad was behind the deadly chemical attack, which killed around a thousand Syrians. Now the US says that Assad may not have been behind the attack, that a local commander could have made the decision on his own.