According to military experts, this will result in at least 100,000 additional civilians killed and about 5 million refugees in a span of couple of weeks. In addition, islamist militants, who are being steadily driven out of occupied territory, will strengthen and start recapturing liberated areas.
Alawite and Christian minorities will be affected, as well as secular Muslims who live mostly in government-controlled areas.
Most of these people will try to get to Europe through Turkey – a repeat of the ongoing refugee crisis Europe is already experiencing. A lot of Syrians who fled from the militants but did not seek quarter abroad also live in those territories.
Despite the risks, the US-led coalition is ready to begin a “bloody massacre” right now, instead of waiting for OPCW to finish investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma.