With the departure from Syria on Sunday of members of a United Nations mission sent to monitor the tumultuous country, the fighting there has entered a period of crisis.

Now is the time for the international community to rally around the UN and press ahead with attempts to find a political solution to the violence ravaging Syria, which is the only way to ensure a peaceful resolution can be achieved.

The UN Supervision Mission in Syria, formed in April by a mandate of the UN Security Council, officially expired at midnight on Sunday.