Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria, arrives at a press conference on Aug. 28. (via Flickr)

The United Kingdom and Canada have established new stances on military intervention in Syria. Civic leadership in these countries took precautions on Aug. 29 against becoming increasingly involved.

World governments have been spurred to action by civil war in Syria, which has raged with rising intensity for years. The most recent violent incidents include attacks on United Nations personnel, who were investigating for evidence of chemical weapons in Damascus.

READ MORE: U.N. Chemical Weapons Team Attacked By Snipers In Syria

The British Parliament has voted against military action, striking down a motion for the application of force proposed by Prime Minister David Cameron. The motion was defeated by a margin of 13 votes, according to the BBC.

Cameron has stated he does not plan on attempting to contest the vote, responding to news of the result by saying, “I get that, and the government will act accordingly.”

READ MORE: Neon Tommy's Full Syria Coverage

The government of Canada has issued a similar foreign policy update. According to The Toronto Sun, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his country’s government has opted out of supporting the use of military force in Syria, even if the United States should lead a campaign. The news may have implications for international relations in the future, likely pending the eventual outcome of the civil war.READ MORE: Defense Secretary Hegel: 'We're Ready To Go' In Syria

Some commentary on the situation’s evolution has drawn comparisons to the events that precluded the war in Iraq. Such is the opinion of David Ivkovic, co-president of Canadians Abroad, an organization that serves to connect Canadian citizens residing in Southern California. Ivkovic supports the actions of his government, saying, “As a Canadian, I treat it as I would any other foreign conflict."

“I always kind of default to what the UN, what their conclusions are first before anything else,” he said, “instead of America, world police.”

“Look at what happened in Iraq," Ivkovic said. “War is always the last resort, I feel strongly.”

OPINION: Too Little, Too Late For Syria

The Department of Defense is slated to release a report on Aug. 30 outlining the United States’ response to the current state of civil war. Secretary of State John Kerry has officially confirmed his belief that chemical weapons have been employed by the Syrian government, and has called for a more dramatic response. As per CNN’s most recent update, an estimated 100,000 people have been killed over the course of the civil war. 

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