One assumes that's what they're trying to avoid

Weren't we supplying the insurgents with equipment?

WHY do we continue doing this? Quit giving either side Boy Toys. They always seem to come back to haunt us. Besides, if you watch them shoot, they are aiming at air or sticking a gun tip thru a small hole in a wall. They have no clue how to operate what they are given and seem to prefer shooting the gun for the noise...feeling of power. I don't care what side you're talking about...IF you know what side they are on...it sounds like their allegiances change from week to week.

And so has Iran.

Syria is a Russian client state.

I'm afraid I've pushed them to the background, of late.

As well as advisors on the ground

Thanks. I guess I'd best pay attention to Russia/Putin. Not thrilled, however.

He doesn't seem like the kind of guy that will just say. 'oh, okay I'll come to court'.

making this whole scenario of Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria a thing for espionage novels.

The first solution that comes up with these situations is, "Gonna go to WAR!" At least Obama was holding back for a while, rather than going off on a tangent and deploying what little power/equipment we have left. Bush was strutting, by now, showing everyone what a shock jock he was..."Only gonna take a few days of Shock and Awe to get this job done." Cheney was standing off to the side with that awful smirk on his face, knowing full well that was a lie.

of planning and super accurate intelligence. While Assad sits around in the Hague, his 2nd and 3rd in command are there taking care of business. Or some even worse faction takes over.

edit to add -
I don't think we want to take Assad out, just get rid of his ability to launch chemical weapons.

is beyond me.