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BBC News - Syria unrest: 'Deadly military attack' on Latakia port
The story is about the ME, but my questions are about what the rest of the world is expected to do about it, which is why this isn't in the ME forum.
Given the uprising in Syria and comparing it with the uprising in Libya, why hasn't the U.S. and the U.N. as well as the Arab league decided to intervene? Logically, it seems to be a very similar situation and I'm asking the question not in support of such an intervention but I'm trying to find some consistency between the U.S., U.N. and Arab League but find none. Given that humanitarian groups have confirmed ships off the coast are shelling inland, hasn't this now escalated to a humanitarian effort?
BBC said:Footage said to show security forces taking hold of Latakia on Saturday
Syrian warships have joined a military assault targeting protesters in the northern port city of Latakia, activists say.
At least 19 people have been killed in the operation, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The military attack began on Saturday, targeting the protesters' stronghold of Ramleh in the city, it said.
More than 1,700 people have reportedly died in the six-month uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.
'Residents flee'
Some 20 tanks and personnel carriers were also said to be taking part in the Latakia assault, with heavy gunfire reported in the Ramleh neighbourhood.
One witness told Reuters news agency by telephone: "I can see the silhouettes of two grey [naval] vessels. They are firing their guns and the impact is landing on al-Ramleh, al-Filistini and al-Shaab neighbourhoods."
Latakia was one of the cities to be caught up in the revolt soon after it erupted in mid-March. Despite repeated attempts by the regime to stifle defiance, it keeps breaking out.
It is a sensitive city. Its population is 600,000 or so, and it has a Sunni Muslim majority, as does the country, but there are also areas dominated by President Assad's minority Alawite community.
The current punishment is being meted out to mainly Sunni areas, a fact that could further aggravate sectarian tensions already sensitised by the situation.
A report on state television denied there had been any naval shelling.
The story is about the ME, but my questions are about what the rest of the world is expected to do about it, which is why this isn't in the ME forum.
Given the uprising in Syria and comparing it with the uprising in Libya, why hasn't the U.S. and the U.N. as well as the Arab league decided to intervene? Logically, it seems to be a very similar situation and I'm asking the question not in support of such an intervention but I'm trying to find some consistency between the U.S., U.N. and Arab League but find none. Given that humanitarian groups have confirmed ships off the coast are shelling inland, hasn't this now escalated to a humanitarian effort?