İnceleme (\OﾖO &LOW 6D\ﾜ Şam’ın Guta saldırısının gerçekleşmesi, saldırının sorumlusunun kim olduğuna dair bazı soru işaretleri oluşturuyor. İsveçli bilim adamı Ake Sellström liderliğindeki heyetin Şam’a gelişi bu yılın Nisan ayından beri pazarlıklara konuydu. Suriye’de Kimyasal Silah Kullanımı: Gerçekten bir “Oyun Dönüştürücü” mü? The Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria: Really a “Game Changer”? Ahmet K. HAN Abstract This article assesses the likelihood and probable scenarios of an external intervention to the ongoing internal conflict in Syria in the wake of the alleged chemical attacks on the region of Ghuta, east of Damascus. The framework of the analysis is set by the strategic balances and choices that are available to the parties in the light of the current situation in the Middle East, as well as the transformation of the Westphalian character of the international system under the influence of emerging norms of humanitarian intervention and re- sponsibility to protect. The study argues that the alleged chemical attacks on Ghuta, in the event that they are actually carried out by the Syrian regime, represent a remarkable misjudgment of the current strategic balances regarding the situation in Syria and a flawed analysis of the emerging norms and practices in international law that can provide impetus for an intervention, going around the necessity of a decision by the United Nations Security Council. The article further contends that an intervention led by the US will be intended as a limited surgical operation that is aimed for punishment of the Syrian regime for the alleged use of chemical weapons and will fall considerably short of changing the strategic situation on the ground. Keywords: Middle East, United States, Syrian conflict, Ghuta massacre, chemical weapons, humanitarian intervention, responsibility to protect, strategy