US policy in Syria timeline
The evolution of US policy in Syria over the past decade.
2007-03-19 23:59:00
George W. Bush administration seeks to isolate Assad
AUDIO: Former NSC official Elliott Abrams interview with Al-Monitor on Jan. 28, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 40).
2009-02-14 23:06:50
President Obama reaches out to Assad, blesses congressional delegation
AUDIO: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), delegation leader, interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 10, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 36).
2011-03-27 00:00:00
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton rules out intervention as crackdown begins
AUDIO: Clinton talks to Bob Schieffer on CBS's Face the Nation on March 27, 2011. Click "More" to listen (1 min 39).
2011-08-18 00:27:52
President Obama says Assad must step down
AUDIO: Amb. Ryan Crocker interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 5, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 24).
2012-06-30 00:00:50
World leaders in Geneva agree on transition plan for Syria unity government
AUDIO: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tells Geneva conference that the plan means Assad must go. Click "More" to listen (39 secs).
2012-07-24 00:00:15
President Obama overrules advisers on arming rebels
AUDIO: Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on CBS's 60 Minutes, Sept. 19, 2014. Click "More" to listen (43 secs).
2012-08-20 23:45:37
President Obama announces "red line" on use of chemical weapons
AUDIO: President Obama at a press briefing, Aug. 20, 2012. Click "More" to listen (1 min).
2012-12-11 00:00:21
US recognizes SNC as "legitimate representative" of Syrian people
AUDIO: Barbara Walters of ABC interviews President Obama about the Syrian opposition coalition. Click "More" to listen (43 secs).
2013-02-24 00:49:38
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) introduces legislation to arm Syrian rebels
AUDIO: Rep. Eliot Engel interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 10, 2016. Click "More" to listen (2 mins 02).
2013-02-27 23:58:09
Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) says US should provide ammunition to rebels
AUDIO: Marco Rubio talks about the Syrian opposition at The Washington Institute on Feb. 27, 2013. Click "More" to listen (1 min 12).
2013-05-01 00:00:56
President Obama asks Pentagon to draw up Syria no-fly zone plan
AUDIO: Former House intel Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 26, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 52).
2013-05-07 04:12:42
Sec. Kerry and Russian FM Sergey Lavrov agree to hold Syria conference
AUDIO: Former NSC official Prem Kumar interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 17, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 46).
2013-05-21 23:50:56
Senate Foreign Relations panel votes 15-3 to arm rebels
AUDIO: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 23, 2016. Click "More" to listen (47 secs).
2013-06-13 23:50:56
White House says it is "likely" that Assad used chemical weapons
AUDIO: Former House intel Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 26, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 55).
2013-08-31 00:17:46
Obama says he will seek congressional approval for strikes against Assad
AUDIO: President Obama announces that the US will take military action against Syrian regime targets. Click "More" to listen (2 mins 02)
2013-09-04 23:08:47
Senate Foreign Relations panel votes 10-7 to approve Syria strikes
AUDIO: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) interview with Al-Monitor on Jan. 27, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 36).
2013-09-10 23:27:35
Obama postpones strikes as Syria, US and Russia seek diplomatic solution
AUDIO: Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) says President Obama abandoned his own "red line" at an FPI event, Dec. 3, 2014. Click "More" to listen (51 secs).
2013-10-31 23:25:43
Syrian chemical weapons facilities reported destroyed
AUDIO: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 10, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 20)
2014-01-31 23:29:17
Geneva II talks begin
AUDIO: Former Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 21, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 58).
2014-09-10 00:00:26
Obama seeks authority for DoD to train & arm rebels against IS, not Assad
AUDIO: Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) interview with Al-Monitor on Jan. 27, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 13)
2014-09-18 00:29:17
Congress approves Obama administration plan to train & arm Syrian rebels
AUDIO: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) speaks out against the plan on the House floor on Sept. 17, 2014. Click "More" to listen (2 mins).
2014-09-22 23:59:26
US begins to bomb IS targets in Syria
AUDIO: President Obama addresses the nation on Sept. 23, 2014. Click "More" to listen (1 min 04).
2015-09-10 00:00:01
Obama administration announces plan to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees
AUDIO: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 25, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 36).
2015-10-09 23:44:16
US abandons effort to train rebel force
AUDIO: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 25, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 22).
2016-02-02 00:00:08
US, Russia agree to a partial truce in Syria
AUDIO: House Foreign Affairs Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 24, 2016. Click "More" to listen (1 min 44).