Welcome to the Spectator podcast. I'm Lara Prendergast. The Syrian initiative to retake the last

remaining rebel stronghold of Aleppo following a two-week ceasefire has proved controversial in the

international community. Images of death and destruction have been decorated over the front pages

of British newspapers, but is there anything that can help erase the pain of Syria's Gurneker? And will this conflict in the Middle

East lead to World War III? These are the issues raised in Paul Wood's cover piece this week,

and he joins me now from Washington, along with Andrew Mitchell, the former international

development minister. So, Paul, why have things escalated so much in Syria recently?

It may be a case that we're noticing that it's escalating. This has been going on for five years now,

and there have been surges by both sides. We happen to be in the middle of a surge by the regime,

attempting to take the last bit of rebel-held Aleppo. I have a suspicion, which I have no evidence for that the regime is worried about

the US presidential election and if Hillary Clinton gets in, she's declared that there will be a

no-fly zone. It's quite interesting actually watching the US vice-presidential debate last night

and Mike Pence, the vice-presidential candidate for Donald Trump, apparently freelancing, said he was in favour of a no-fly zone too.

All of this has huge implications for the regime, which I think is only there today because a year ago the Russians decided to start bombing.

Are they serious about the no-fly zone?

All these presidential candidates? Hard to tell, but I think the regime must have an eye on the clock.

And, Andrew, in this week's issue, we're talking about whether this could lead to World

War III. Do you think that that's a possibility? Well, I think it's a very dramatic way of putting it,

but I would say this, you know, it is clear that the Russians, a permanent five member of the United Nations Security Council, is doing to the United

Nations what the Germans and the Italians did to the League of Nations in the 1930s. And the reason

why the United Nations, in spite of a very clear responsibility to protect, R2P, is witnessing the slaughter

night after night of completely innocent civilians in Aleppo. It's because a rogue elephant,

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