To date, despite the official implementation of the ceasefire and the presence of the UN observers — expected to reach a total of 300 — the violence in Syria has maintained a steady level. Any hope that both sides would respect the agreement after a dip in fighting was witnessed in the early days, have been dashed subsequently. Therefore the realistic assessment of the head of the UN observers’ mission, Major General Robert Mood on arrival in Syria must be taken with a grain of salt. General Mood’s blunt appraisal highlights the futility of even a 1,000 unarmed observers on ground unless both sides halt all armed violence.

As witnessed over the past two weeks, the ceasefire terms are being violated by both sides — the government and the opposition backed Free Syrian Army have not desisted from using violence against each other amid allegations and counter allegations. Irrespective of who is to blame, the two, caught up in a vicious cycle are continuing to act in a manner that negates the whole purpose of the ceasefire in the first place. The ceasefire itself is pivotal to the peace plan, whose success can only come about once a cessation of violence is achieved.

While this is extremely unfortunate, the bigger question facing the international community is; what to do next? The only alternatives left are hard-hitting Security Council sanctions and/or an external military intervention. A lot has been said about Russian and Chinese opposition and their threat of vetoing a Security Council resolution, but would these hold ground in the present circumstances? Moscow and Beijing have been urging patience and time for the implementation of Annan’s peace plan but the ensuing circumstances since the ceasefire came into effect have only seen a steady deterioration. Each passing day has resulted in more killings. It is a gruesome reality that brings additional responsibility on all those involved in finding a resolution to this crisis. So unless the Syrian government and the rebel forces hold fire, drastic action will have to be taken to forcibly stop them. This is the least desirable action but one that may have become necessary now.