Apocalypse beckons in Syria

Frequently over the decades, global powers and alliances in the East and the West have squared up in territories far removed from their own capitals, and in the endless battle for global influence, power, prestige and self-interest. In Syria, the usual actors and their alliances are once again in action, in a conflict that has thus far killed 250,000 Syrians since March 2011.

What began as an uprising by Syrians against their Government protesting high unemployment, widespread corruption, lack of political freedom and state repression has drawn the world into a nightmare of chemical weapons attacks, non-stop terrorism, mass slaughter of men, women and children as well as the destruction of renowned ancient monuments.