From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Israel, Hezbollah, and a potential new phase in Syria's civil war.

I'm Tess Viglin, sitting in for Warren Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Hezbollah is stepping up its engagement in Syria's two-year civil war, helping government

forces battle a crucial rebel-held town. That means Iran is also deepening its involvement.

And U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin today in Moscow in an effort to find common cause.

Is that conflict entering a new phase? Will Israel's military strikes near Damascus push the U.S. to take action?

Today we'll explore the pressures on all sides.

On reporter's notebook later on, the meaning of a normal life for three women held captive for a decade in

Cleveland. First, here's the news.

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I'm Tess Vigland sitting in for Warren Olney back with To the Point.

The White House is holding the line on intervention in Syria's Civil War, despite Israel's military strikes against Syrian targets and lingering questions about Syria's use of chemical weapons against its citizens is the war entering a new phase. Later on reporter's notebook, three women have been rescued from a house in Cleveland where they allegedly spent the last

decade in captivity. We'll talk about where they go from there. First, this news, the ongoing

crisis in Syria continues to raise thorny issues about U.S. intervention in the civil war there.

That war began as part of the Arab Spring in 2011, but has developed into the most intractable conflict of the revolutionary movement. More than 70,000 people have been killed. And the Obama administration faces increasing pressure to do something. Pressure it is so far resisting. I'm joined now by several guests to help us sort through the

recent developments. First, Sam Dagger is with us. He's a Middle East correspondent with the

Wall Street Journal, joining us from Beirut. Welcome to The Point. Thank you, Tash.

Give us a sense, first of all, of Hasbolo's stepped up involvement in Syria, helping the regime in an area that

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