The U.S. government is contemplating significant intervention in the Syria conflict and has discussed employing Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems in Turkey and directly providing arms to opposition fighters.

Officials told the New York Times that the U.S. might bring its military resources for either intimidation purposes or direct use in Syria against President Bashar Al-Assad’s army. 

NATO will likely decide next week whether or not to deploy surface-to-air Patriot missiles in Turkey to protect the country from potential Syrian missiles that could contain chemical weapons, as well as intimidate Syrian Air Force pilots from bombing northern Syria border towns.

The armed rebels currently control much of Northwest Syria along the border, making it a likely conflict zone. 

Although State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the Patriot missile system would not be used beyond the border, military sources told Israeli news service DEBKA that all of northern Syria would be controlled by the Turkish-NATO team.

Attitudes are now changing on intervention. 

“The (U.S.) administration has figured out that if they don’t start doing something, the war will be over and they won’t have any influence over the combat forces on the ground,” a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer told the New York Times. “They may have some influence with various political groups and factions, but they won’t have influence with the fighters, and the fighters will control the territory.”

The U.S. has so far provided nearly $200 million in humanitarian aid, but officials believe the administration is now considering providing arms to the opposition groups. The Obama administration is also preparing to recognize Syria’s new opposition council as the official representation of Syria, likely during a Dec. 12 “Friends of Syria” conference in Morocco. Britain, France and several Arab countries allied with the U.S. have recognized the council as Syria’s sole representative. But while the idea of providing arms may be considered, many still believe it to be a bad one. 

“Arms are not a strategy; arms are a tactic,” U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford said. “A military solution is not the best way for Syria. Efforts to win this by conquering one side or the other will simply prolong the violence and actually aggravate an already terrible humanitarian situation. Syria needs a political solution.”

A rebel Syrian fighter with an amputated hand, takes cover from a sniper loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al -Assad, near Aleppo’s historical citadel, Nov. 28, 2012.REUTERS

Congressional officials and diplomats told the Times that a decision on weapons would likely be made after President Barack Obama selects his new national security team.

On Thursday, Syria’s Internet as well as its main airport  in Damascus were reportedly shut down. 

No Russian involvement in Syrian conflict – Lavrov

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has ruled out Russian participation in the conflict. 

Calling it “out of the question,” the minister defended Russia’s military and technological cooperation which has served to “promote stability in the Middle East.”

Speaking on the political climate, he said Russia’s cooperation with Syria was never intended to support any particular side. Lavror reiterated Russia’s opinion that the Syrian people have the right to resolve the conflict. 

Earlier, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stressed that Russia has no plans to support Syrian President Bashar Assad “at any cost.”

The Foreign Minister stressed Tuesday in a Paris meeting with his French counterpart that Russia was simply following the conditions for a Syrian ceasefire detailed in the UN communiqué, which was agreed upon by global leaders in Geneva in July.

In order to implement the agreement, Russia continues to work closely with members of government and opposition groups, Lavrov noted, while adding that all “external players that have influence on Syrian affairs” should encourage both sides into complying with the UN communiqué.

The risk of diverging from the agreed course, and “waging war till a victory against the Assad regime,” could only worsen the suffering of the Syrian people and complicate the situation in the Middle East, which is already explosive, he said.

Lavrov then provided a breakdown of the Syrian crisis, which has been raging with increasing severity for 20 months.

“The combat is becoming increasingly fiercer and is leading to new casualties, while many extremists, foreign mercenaries, and terrorists linked to al-Qaeda have appeared among the rebel opposition,” he noted. The security of thousands of Russians living there is their top priority, he added.