Photos: President Obama’s changing stance on the Syrian crisis
A Syrian man carries his two girls as he walks across the rubble following a barrel bomb attack on the rebel-held position in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.
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President Obama has decided to end the Pentagon’s failed effort to field its own proxy force in Syria, the administration announced Friday.
Instead of trying to back a moderate Syrian rebel force that the U.S. would train, the administration will focus on supporting the Kurds and other established rebel groups in the country’s civil war, according to officials familiar with the plan.
Here is a timeline of quotes from the president and images from throughout the Syrian crisis.
An attempt by Russia and Iran to prop up Assad and try to pacify the population is just going to get them stuck in a quagmire and it won’t work.
— <b>President Obama - Oct. 2, 2015</b>
President Obama speaks during a news conference in the State Dining Room of the White House, rejecting Russia’s military campaign in Syria, saying it fails to distinguish between terrorist groups and moderate rebel forces.
Last night on my orders, America’s armed forces began strikes against ISIL targets in Syria... This is not America’s fight alone.
— President Obama - Sept. 23, 2014
Two U.S. Navy F-18E Super Hornets supporting operations against Islamic State, after being refueled by a KC-135 Statotanker over Iraq after conducting an airstrike.
There is the possibility of a diplomatic solution.... I asked Congress to postpone a vote on the use of military force. That’s what we’re doing....
— President Obama - Sept. 14, 2013
Secretary of State John Kerry, left, holds a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva after they met for talks on Syria’s chemical weapons.
Almost three weeks ago in Syria, more than 1,000 innocent people, including hundreds of children, were murdered in the worst chemical weapons attack of the 20th century.
— President Obama - Sept. 7, 2013
Volunteers put on gas masks during a class on how to respond to a chemical attack in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.
After careful deliberation, I have decided the United States should take military action against Syrian regime targets.... we are prepared to strike....
— President Obama - Sept. 1, 2013
We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around...
— President Obama - Aug. 20, 2012
President Obama speaks during a press conference in the Briefing Room of the White House about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, Syria, Afghanistan and other issues.
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