War planners now aim to unleash a heavy barrage of missile strikes to be followed swiftly by additional attacks on targets that may have been missed or remain standing after the initial launch, the Times cited officials as saying.
Two US officers told the newspaper that the White House has asked for an expanded target list to include "many more" than the initial list of around 50 targets.
The move is part of an effort to obtain additional firepower to damage Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's dispersed forces.
Pentagon planners are now considering using Air Force bombers, as well as five US missile destroyers currently patrolling the eastern Mediterranean Sea, to launch cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles from far out of range of Syrian air defenses, according to the report.
The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group with one cruiser and three destroyers positioned in the Read Sea can also fire cruise missiles at Syria.
"There will be several volleys and an assessment after each volley, but all within 72 hours and a clear indication when we are done," an officer familiar with the planning told the Times.
The intensified military planning comes as President Barack Obama prepares to personally make his case to the American people and further press reluctant lawmakers on the need for action after Assad allegedly used chemical weapons on his own people last month.
Obama is scheduled to tape interviews Monday with anchors of the three major broadcast networks, as well as with PBS, CNN and Fox News.
The interviews, to air that night, will precede Obama's address to the nation Tuesday ahead of an expected full Senate vote.
The president favors a limited attack with only a reduced number of warplanes to drop bombs over Syria, according to the Times.
Amid doubts that a limited US offensive would sufficiently hamper Assad's military capabilities, one officer told the newspaper that the planned operation would amount to a "show of force" over several days that would not fundamentally change the situation on the ground.
The planned US strike "will not strategically impact the current situation in the war, which the Syrians have well in hand, though fighting could go on for another two years," another US officer said.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Sexton Blake: you are right;they are doing the job of killing each other on their own nicely.
@waseem sarwar: It has always been Muslim versus Muslim,anywhere and everywhere.West is used as a mercenary by one side or the other or both,and then blamed to shun responsibility.
They will back down at the last minute and then "PRETEND TO BE GREAT WESTERN RESPONSIBLE DEMOCRACIES" . But beware of mass murders in "sheep's clothings- bleating democracy"
the only purpose of this to destroy all muslim countries one by one and put them 30 years behind,Westerns are smart making or framing case for destruction.Ashamed on the role Saudi Arabia playing since decades.
@Coalition of the Willing: The US supplied and equipped terrorists have already killed a hundred thousand people as well as crossing the red line by poisoning over a thousand people. Let us hope America, does not rescue the Syrians. Every time they go into rescue mode too many people finish up dead. If you need any proof of US destructive abilities and use of chemicals take a look at the following:
http://www.policymic.com/articles/62023/10-chemical-weapons-attacks-washington-doesn-t-want-you-to-talk-about</p
All these "Allied' Butchers should be tried for their Crimes against Humanity in the International Court of Justice.
@Coalition of the Willing: fellow Muslims? Rebels and government both are Muslims.
Re Arabs, it is not about fellow muslims or brothers. It is the old Arab / Non-Arab rivalry and the Shia/Sunni conflict. Syria, a majority Sunni country has been ruled by a minority (Alawites) now for far too long. Shias took Iraq and now Sunnis want Syria back. Both with American help.
...........so they have been paid for only three days of killing.
Hoping for one 'Direct Hit'...one that should have been done by the muslims preferably, but better late than never.
The Arabs are unwilling to help their fellow Muslims in Syria, so it's up to the US to the burdensome job to help Syrians, which will used by many anti-Americans as a pretext to create more hatred against the West. But someone has to do the job. If not the Allies, then who?
Take this warmonger's Nobel Peace Prize back. Right now.