It seems to me there maybe a comparison here with the US and Iraq. By this I mean it is a frustrating problem and military forces may look like a quick solution due to past victories. The problem with this, as has been seen in Iraq, is just because you can take down a problem regime doesn’t mean you can create a more favorable situation, and can easily make things worse. Obviously this is not an ideal comparison since there are a lot of differences, just a lesson about unintended consequences.

I don’t think there is any kind of limited strike option here; since the Assad regime would likely be very threaten internally if they didn’t respond very aggressively to an Israeli strike. After seeing HAMAS and Hezbollah rise to power by attacking Israel while the PA and Lebanese government were pushed aside, only a foolish Arab government would not offer a massive response to an Israeli attack, make rapid escalation all but unavoidable.