With American policy stalled and arguments about the degree to which its bombing campaign has blunted Islamic State (IS), the president's envoy, retired General John Allen, and several other senior officials have decided to step down. Gen Allen was known to believe the US should harden its position on the overthrow of President Assad, and in the need for a safe zone in the north of Syria - instead the prospect seems to be slipping away of either happening.

What is his end game? Will Syria be his Afghanistan?

Sitting next to Mr Netanyahu yesterday he said, "our main goal is to protect the Syrian state".