" ...but beyond that there’s been no global push for a negotiated peace. If anything, the visual evidence from Aleppo, and the misery of millions of displaced Syrian refugees (half of whom are children) seems to have hardened the heart of the international community..." 

Let me provide a ( brutal ) reality check: This is a civil war in an urban environment - the most difficult and technically complex form of warfare. There is no simple solution, certainly not a military one.  As for the horror and destruction - nothing compared to WW2 carpet bombing, terrified at night running for the bomb shelter as sirens howled ... climbing ove rhe smoking ruiuns afterwards ... as a child. And let me add that Western intervention in the ME " to install democracy ( per G. Bush ) demonstrated exactly zero understanding of the local cultures, sectarian divisions and tribal vendettas. 

Was this war " illegal " ?? Oh PLEASE ... as for the pictures - be glad they are not next door !