When taking crucial decisions, nations strike a balance between moral, strategic, and legal considerations. In response to the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons in the August 21, 2013 attack that killed over 1,000 civilians, the United States is considering launching a limited military strike against Syria. However, absent authorization by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the international legal basis underlying such a military operation is far from clear-cut. This article analyzes briefly the formal legal aspect, i.e., the legality of intervening militarily in the Syrian conflict according to international law.
