Syria Unrest![]() Amid Foot-Dragging, Syria Transfers Third Chemical Weapons BatchOPCW announces third shipment of Syrian chemical weapons shipped after US denounces Assad over dragging his feet.![]() At Least 50 US Citizens Fighting in Syrian Rebel FactionsUS intelligence officials release estimate of how many US citizens are fighting in rebel factions, express concern over terrorism at home.![]() Syria: West Reaches Out to Assad Over JihadistsSyrian official: growing concern over rebel forces, including foreign jihadis, has caused the West to reach out to Assad.![]() Syria Death Toll Tops 130,000More than 130,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, new tally finds.![]() Assad's Government Agrees to Attend Geneva TalksSyrian government will participate in Geneva peace talks but declares that Assad will not “hand over power.”![]() Syria: At Least 20 Dead in Car Bomb ExplosionCar bomb explosion kills at least 20 near a mosque in the Damascus province town of Suq Wadi Barada.![]() Assad Denies Attacking CiviliansRegime says "terrorist dens" were destroyed in overnight operations, denies chemical attack on civilians.![]() Israel in UN: Syria Provoking Us"This week's events are part of a disturbing pattern of events intended to spark provocation with Israel," said UN ambassador.![]() UN's Envoy to Syria Plans to QuitSyria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is on the verge of quitting amid growing frustration at deadlocked efforts to end the conflict.![]() More than 1,000 Hizbullah Terrorists Enter Syria to Help AssadOver 1,000 members of Hizbullah have entered Syria in the past few days in order to fight alongside regime troops.![]() Syrian Aircraft Strike in LebanonSyrian aircraft bomb two locations in the eastern Lebanon town of Arsal. Washington denounces the act.![]() Syria Ready to Fight Rebels 'For Years'Pro-government Syrian newspaper warns the army is "in perfect condition" and can "fight for years to defend Syria."![]() Hizbullah's Number 2: Assad Regime Will SurviveThe Hizbullah terror group’s number two, Sheikh Naim Qassem, says he is confident that the Assad regime in Syria would survive.![]() Syria: Fighting Returns to 'Capital of the Revolution'Syrian rebels launch a surprise raid to retake a key district of the central city of Homs, dubbed 'capital of the revolution'.![]() Syrian Authorities Claim they Found 'Israeli Equipment'Syrian authorities claim they have discovered Israeli "espionage equipment" in an undisclosed location in the country.![]() Assad Says Syria Will Hit Back at IsraelSyrian President Bashar al-Assad vows to hit back at Israel over alleged airstrike in January, but says it may not be an overt attack.![]() Kerry Hints U.S. Will Provide More Support to Syrian OppositionU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hints at greater U.S. support for Syria's opposition, saying it needs "more help".![]() Syrian Government: We're Ready for Talks with RebelsSyria's foreign minister says the authorities in Damascus are ready to talk to anyone, including armed rebels.![]() Syria: At Least 12 Dead in Missile Attack in AleppoThree missiles crashed into residential areas of Syria's northern city of Aleppo, killing at least 12 civilians.![]() Syrian Rebels Hit Back at Hizbullah in LebanonFree Syrian Army starts to attack Hizbullah, a day after giving it an ultimatum to stop shelling territory held by the rebels.![]() Syrian Rebels Down WarplaneSyrian rebels down a warplane over Hammuriyeh after an air strike kills at least 14 people in the Damascus province town.![]() Kerry: Syria Death Toll May Have Reached 90,000U.S. Secretary of State says the death toll in Syria may have reached 90,000, citing figures given to him by his Saudi counterpart.![]() Syria: 78 Executed Bodies Found in RiverThe bodies of 78 young men, all executed with a single gunshot, found in a river in Syria's Aleppo city.![]() Israel Keeping Close Eye on Syria's Chemical WeaponsIsrael becoming increasingly concerned that Syria’s chemical weapons will fall into the hands of Hizbullah or rebel terrorists.![]() Latest Syrian Air Raid Kills 8 ChildrenRegime warplanes launch a wave of deadly raids across Syria, including one which kills eight children.![]() Assad's Mother Fled Syria, Says Former U.S. AmbassadorThe former U.S. ambassador to Damascus confirms that Assad's mother has fled Syria and is in the UAE.![]() Syria: At Least 30 Killed in Suicide Car BombingSuicide car bombing in Hama kills at least 30 people, Arab League says efforts to end the conflict have failed.![]() Syria's Opposition Meets to Select Prime MinisterSyria's opposition umbrella group meets in Istanbul in a bid to name a prime minister-in-exile.![]() Report: Assad Used Non-Lethal Chemicals on RebelsSyrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces used non-lethal chemical weapons against rebels in Homs, the French daily Le Monde reports.![]() Al-Jazeera Journalist Killed by Syrian SniperSniper kills an Al-Jazeera reporter in southern Syria, the second such shooting of a journalist in two days.![]() At Least 100 Killed in New Syria MassacreMore than 100 civilians have been killed in a new massacre north of the Syrian city of Homs, activists say.![]() Syria: Twin Bombs in Idlib Leave 22 DeadTwin car bombs kill at least 22 people in Idlib, as universities mourn 87 people killed in explosions on the student campus in Aleppo.![]() Syria: 82 Dead in Bombing at Aleppo UniversityTwin blasts rip through the university campus in Syria's city of Aleppo, killing at least 82 people and wounding scores more.![]() At Least 26 Children Killed in Syria ViolenceAt least 26 children killed in violence in Syria, as Human Rights Watch accuses Assad of expanding his use of banned cluster bombs.![]() Netanyahu Visits IDF Base in the Golan Heights"Of course we are monitoring what is happening on the other side of this buffer inside Syria," Netanyahu tells soldiers in Golan.![]() Syrian Rebels Seize Key AirbaseRebels overrun the Taftanaz airbase in northern Syria in a significant advance in the battles against the Assad regime.![]() Panetta: U.S. Focused on Securing Syrian Chemical WeaponsThe U.S. is increasingly focused on how to secure Syria's chemical weapons if Assad falls from power, says Defense Secretary.![]() Damascus Accuses Brahimi of 'Bias'Damascus accuses joint UN-Arab League peace envoy of "flagrant bias" against it, a day before he meets U.S. and Russian officials.![]() Syria: 5 Dead as Fighting Returns to 'Palestinian' CampSyrian fighting has returned to an area of Damascus which serves as a camp for people registered as "Palestinian refugees."![]() U.S. May Issue Most Wanted Syrians Playing CardsThe United States is considering issuing a set of playing cards to help identify 100 most wanted figures of the Syrian regime.![]() Assad Speech 'Detached from Reality', Says U.S.The United States State Department says Assad's speech is another attempt to cling to power.![]() U.S. Concerned by Assad's Use of Iranian-Made MissilesThe United States is becoming increasingly worried about Syria’s use of ballistic missiles supplied by Iran.![]() Assad to Give Speech, May Offer a 'Peace Plan'Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad is to make a rare speech Sunday and may present a five-point plan to end violence.![]() Car Bomb Rips Through Damascus Gas StationAt least nine dead after a car bomb tore through a gas station in the Syrian capital Damascus' district of Barzeh.![]() UN Estimates Syria Death Toll at More than 60,000More than 60,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since March of 2011, says the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.![]() 20 Syrian Troops Defect to TurkeyA group of some 20 Syrian soldiers, including a general, have defected from the army and fled to Turkey.![]() Dozens of Tortured Corpses Found in DamascusAt least 30 tortured bodies found in a flashpoint district of Damascus as Syria violence continues into 2013.![]() Officials: Assad Isolating Himself Fearing AssassinationSyrian President Assad is focusing on his personal safety, avoiding contact with others and moving to a different bedroom every night.![]() Brahimi: Syrian War is Worsening by the DayInternational envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says he has a peace plan that could be supported by world powers.![]() Russia: Assad Can't be Forced to Step DownRussia admits that Syrian President will not be persuaded to quit, insists there is still a chance of finding a political solution.![]() Russia Urges Assad to Talk to OppositionRussia, Syria's closest ally despite months of violence, encourages Assad to hold dialogue with opposition.![]() Syrian Regime Firing Iranian-Made Missiles at RebelsThe Syrian regime this week fired at least two Iranian-made, short-range ballistic missiles at rebels, U.S. military officials say.![]() Report: Defected Syrian Helping U.S. IntelligenceThe Syrian government's former spokesman, Jihad Makdissi, is co-operating with U.S. intelligence officials, the British Guardian reports.![]() Report: Syria Converted Combat Aircraft to Drones with WMDsA MiG-21 combat aircraft flown by a Syrian pilot who defected was found to have been upgraded back in Syria to carry chemical weapons.![]() NATO Confirms Syria Firing Scuds on RebelsSyrian regime's Scud firing "an act of a desperate regime," says NATO's Secretary-General.![]() Palestinian 'Refugees' Return to Damascus CampThousands of people recognized as Palestinian refugees return to the Yarmouk camp that has become a battle ground.![]() Assad's Fall a Matter of Time, Says Turkish FMThe fall of Syria’s government is “only a matter of time,” predicts Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. |