You forget that that was a time that promised a brave new world,  when the Arab Spring gave promise that in Arab countries at least despots such as Assad were to be swept away and replaced by western style democracy,  That's why  western democracies supported destabilizing  and supporting rebel groups and his  eventual eliminating.      It didn't help that he cracked down with ferocity street demonstration demanding a more open government.  Now we realize it was a foolish dream and Arab countries with their tribalism can never have democracy and need a strong man. And it didn't help to have the Russians helping him drop barrel bombs etc on men women and children .
We may have been naive but the intentions were good al;though it didn't help having an impotent UN ans US President.