Four Iranians are also reportedly dead after rebels forces fired at two vehicles belonging to the Syria regime near Homs.

In joint White House press conference, President Obama cites need for further evidence before making Syria decision; Erdogan: Turkey in 'full consensus' with U.S. on need to end Syria bloodshed.

Israeli intelligence doesn't point to Syrian retaliation for air strikes it has attributed to Israel, and a massive Israeli attack would only be a last resort.

Russia opposes resolution drafted by Qatar and other Arab countries, warning it could hinder preparations for a Syria peace conference.

Israel's head of military intel probably passed the Russian president information on chemical weapons used on Syrian rebels; Putin to Netanyahu: Moves that could destabilize situation in Syria must be avoided.

Netanyahu will ask the Russian president not to supply advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Syria.

Al-Jazeera reports peacekeepers 'transferred' to Israel; this was the second time in two months that Filipino peacekeepers have been abducted by rebels, apparently from the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade

Christians in Syria find themselves damned if they support the regime of President Bashar Assad, and equally damned if they join the rebellion. With both the regime and Islamists looking to settle scores, the future looks bleak.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says blood samples taken from Syrian refugees indicate use of chemical weapons.

It's impossible to tell if Moscow and Washington agree on how the crisis should end, and whether they agree on Syria’s intentions, or possible courses of action; but neither side can allow the future map of Syria to be drawn by militias and gangs that could easily spread the crisis into Lebanon and Iraq.