A look at Syria developments around the world

The United States is considering launching a punitive strike against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, blamed by the US and the Syrian opposition for an Aug. 21 alleged chemical weapons attack in a rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital of Damascus. The US said the attack killed 1,429 people, including at least 426 children. Those numbers are significantly higher than the death toll of 355 provided by the aid group Doctors Without Borders.

Here's a look at key Syria developments around the world yesterday amid heightened tensions over potential military action:

THE NETHERLANDS:

UN chemical weapons inspectors were believed to have arrived in the Netherlands. Samples the team collected during four days of on-site Syria visits are expected to be repackaged and sent to European laboratories. They will be checked for traces of poison gas that may have been used in the alleged chemical attack. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based in The Hague, was expected to receive blood and urine samples taken from victims as well as soil samples from affected areas.

SYRIA:

Rebels fighting to topple Assad said they plan an offensive against his troops in attacks coinciding with any US strikes. Syrian state TV showed images of Syrian soldiers training, fighter jets soaring in the sky and tanks firing at unseen targets, to the backdrop of martial music. The potential US military strike dominated the station's morning talk shows.

UNITED STATES:

President Barack Obama was getting ready to speak about Syria from the White House. He said Friday he was considering a limited military strike against Syria but had not yet made a decision. Senators were being briefed by top White House officials.

RUSSIA:

President Vladimir Putin urged President Barack Obama not to rush a decision on striking Syria, and to consider whether strikes would help end the violence and be worth likely civilian casualties. Putin said Obama should reflect on the results of US military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq before deciding whether to launch air strikes against Assad's regime.

UNITED NATIONS:

UN disarmament chief Angela Kane was scheduled to brief Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the investigation conducted by the experts into the alleged chemical attack.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA:

Five US Navy destroyers were in the eastern Mediterranean Sea waiting for the order to launch. The destroyers are armed with dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of about 1,000 nautical miles (1,151 miles, 1,852 kilometers) and are used for precise targeting. French military officials confirmed the frigate Chevalier Paul, which specializes in anti-missile capabilities, as well as the hulking transport ship Dixmude were in the Mediterranean for training and operational preparations but denied any link to possible Syria operations.

ISRAEL:

The Israeli military said it deployed an "Iron Dome" missile defense battery in the Tel Aviv area. If the US attacks Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons, Israel fears Damascus may respond by firing missiles at Israel, a close American ally

JORDAN:

Demonstrators opposed to military intervention in Syria burned US and Israeli flags and chanted outside the American embassy in the Jordanian capital of Amman. Protester Kawthar Arrar said a strike would be "an aggression on the whole Arab world."

ITALY:

Italian Premier Enrico Letta said his country understands why the United States and France are considering military action against Syria's regime, but said Italy cannot without UN backing. He said Italians are deeply disturbed by images of the alleged chemical weapons attack and the international community is having "difficult moments" trying to decide on an appropriate response to prevent future chemical attacks.

FRANCE:

Nearly two-thirds of French people oppose military intervention by their country in Syria, according to a survey released by polling agency BVA. The Aug. 29-30 telephone survey polled 1,010 French people over age 18. It found that 64 percent oppose their country's participation in a possible military strike targeting Assad's regime. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent.