( CNN ) -- When President Barack Obama said this weekend that bombing Syrian targets is the right thing to do , and then asked Congress to approve it , the international crisis took a turn toward a fierce domestic battle . There are so many moving parts to this complicated story that it can become quite difficult to keep up . Let this Q & A bring you up to speed on the dizzying developments . Is the U.S. going to war with Syria ? No -- at least not yet . Even though Obama said he wants to strike Syrian targets after the regime allegedly used chemical weapons on a rebel stronghold last month , he says he wants to wait for Congress ' blessing first . When will Congress decide ? Not anytime soon . Lawmakers wo n't be back in Washington until September 9 . But the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says it 'll hold a hearing on Syria this Tuesday . Ca n't lawmakers be called in earlier ? They can , for an emergency debate . But Obama said he wo n't ask for that . Gen. Martin Dempsey , the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff , says it 's fine to wait . According to officials , Dempsey told the president a delay wo n't jeopardize a military strike . Will Congress support Obama ? Obama might be able to count on the Senate , where the Democrats hold a slim majority . The question is , will the Republican-dominated House go along ? Lawmakers agree that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's alleged use of chemical weapons is a travesty . But they also do n't want a repeat of Iraq . Where exactly does the hesitation lie ? Some , like Republican Sen. Ted Cruz , say the U.S. should act only if there 's a clear threat to its national security . Others , like Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham , say airstrikes wo n't go far enough . They want al-Assad removed from power . Does Obama really have to wait for Congress ' green light ? Technically , no . The 1973 War Powers Act allows the president to launch military action , but he must notify Congress within 48 hours . But just because he can does n't mean he will . `` While I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization , I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course , and our actions will be even more effective , '' he said Saturday . `` We should have this debate , because the issues are too big for business as usual . '' But did n't he order airstrikes in Libya in 2011 without congressional approval ? How is Syria different ? In Libya , the U.S. was backing NATO action . In Syria 's case , there 's been no U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an intervention . If the U.S. goes in , it would be going in unilaterally . What 's the U.N. saying ? U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he 'll go before the Security Council after a team of U.N. inspectors -- who 've been on the ground investigating the alleged attack -- presents its report . But it could take the team up to three weeks to analyze the evidence . And even then , it 'll only say if there was a chemical attack , not who was behind it . So would the U.S. really have no foreign support ? British Prime Minister David Cameron called for military action against Syria -- only to have his hopes quashed when lawmakers narrowly voted it down . French ministers will meet Monday to discuss Syria , and hold a debate two days later . `` France can not act alone , '' its interior minister said Sunday . `` We need a coalition . '' German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the time gained waiting for U.S. congressional approval `` must be used to reach a common position of the international community within the U.N. Security Council . '' In another tweet , he said that the results from the U.N. inspectors ' visit to Syria `` must be sped up . '' How do Americans feel ? A poll released last week showed almost 80 % of Americans think Obama should get congressional approval first . And after his announcement Saturday , anti-war protests sprouted up across the country -- including one in Los Angeles that drew hundreds . And what about Syria . How does it feel about all of this ? The Syrian government has said it did n't use chemical weapons in the August 21 attack . It says jihadists fighting alongside Syrian rebels used them to turn global sentiment against the regime . Syria 's prime minister says the country 's army is on `` maximum readiness and fingers are on the trigger to confront all challenges . '' What about the Syrian opposition ? A major Syrian opposition group , the Syrian National Coalition , said it was disappointed by Obama wanting Congress ' permission . `` We ca n't understand how you can promise to help those who are being slaughtered every day in the hundreds , giving them false hope , then change your mind and say 'Let 's wait and see , ' '' the group told CNN . And the Local Coordination Committees in Syria , another opposition group , lamented the notion that a U.S. strike would be limited . `` A limited strike to merely warn Assad today will lead to nothing but his increase in violence , as well as to his complete confidence that no one would prevent him from killing , '' the group said in a statement . `` In the end , no one will pay the price but the Syrian people . '' How exactly would U.S. carry out an attack ? No one is calling for boots on the ground . Five U.S. warships with Tomahawk cruise missiles are waiting in the Mediterranean Sea . The Tomahawk has a range of about 1,000 miles . It can loiter over targets , circling for hours , and can be reprogrammed midflight to change course . Yes , each costs about $ 1.2 million , but they can be fired from quite a distance . This means no one has to get within range of Syrian fire . Could Syria strike back ? Syria has some anti-ship missiles -- but they have a range of only 62 to 186 miles , says Edward Hunt , a senior analyst at IHS Jane 's . It also has a number of Scuds and similar surface-to-surface weapons , but these are not designed to be used against moving targets such as U.S. warships , Hunt said . How are the neighbors reacting ? Security is tight in Lebanon , where one in six is now a Syrian refugee . In Israel , there 's been a rush on gas masks because residents fear that Syria could target Israel for retaliation . And Jordan , a key Western ally , says it wo n't be a launchpad for a strike . This is all a lot to digest . Give me the takeaway . A U.S. strike against Syria is not imminent . And even though Obama can launch a military attack unilaterally , he 'd prefer to have Congress ' approval first . CNN 's Dana Bash , Saad Abedine , Jim Acosta , Gregory Wallace , Evan Perez , Laura Smith-Spark , Mohammed Jamjoom , Tom Watkins , Catherine E. Shoichet , and Richard Allen Greene contributed to this report .
Congress wo n't be back until September 9 . Poll : Obama - Romney, 47 % to 45 % Comment: Some decry the alleged chemical weapons attacks , but do n't want another Iraq . Syria says it is ready to confront any challenge .