Syrian civil war

Austria to Begin Withdrawing Golan Peacekeepers on Wednesday

Austria will begin withdrawing its 377 peacekeepers from the Golan Heights on Wednesday, says official.

Intel Minister Says Assad May Prevail in Syria

Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz says he believes Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad may prevail in the civil war raging across the border.

15 Yr Old Publicly Executed for Blasphemy in Aleppo

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports Islamist rebels in Aleppo executed a 15-year-old in front of his parents for blasphemy.

U.S.-Led 'Eager Lion' Military Drill Starts in Jordan

Jordan announces the start of the “Eager Lion” military exercises, with the participation of 8,000 soldiers from 19 countries.

Sources: Obama Close to Approving Arms for Syrian Rebels

United States President Barack Obama is close to approving arms for the Syrian rebels, say officials.

Qaradawi Slams Hizbullah as 'Party of Satan'

Influential cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi says Hizbullah seeks to “sow discord” among Muslims as it fights alongside Assad.

Austria Not Ruling Out Sending Peacekeepers Back to Golan

Austria's Foreign Minister says his country does not rule out returning its UN peacekeepers to the Golan Heights.

Israel Cannot Depend on UN Forces For Security

PM Netanyahu says Israel can't depend on the UN for security in the Golan. He told Russia Israel won't fire at Syria if Syria does the same.

UN Official: Assad Directly Responsible for Atrocities

The UN has evidence that Assad is directly orchestrating atrocities against his opponents, says Commissioner for Human Rights.

Syrian Army Uses Innocent Civilians as Bait

President Bashar Al-Assad’s troops have been using innocent civilians as human bait to lure rebels from their hiding places.

Syrian Civil War Becomes a Religious Sectarian War

The split between Shiites and Sunnis is deepening and the war in Syria is threatening the rest of the Muslim world.

Report: Weapons with Hebrew Inscription Found in Syria

Hizbullah TV claims weapons bearing Hebrew inscriptions have been found in the Syrian town of al-Qusayr.

Putin Offers to Send Troops to Replace Austrians in the Golan

Russian President proposes that his country’s peacekeepers replace departing Austrian troops in the Golan Heights.

McCain Repeats Call for U.S. to Take Action in Syria

"The only power that is not fully committed in this struggle is us," says U.S. Senator John McCain, a week after meeting Syrian rebels.

UN Chief Regrets Austria's Decision to Withdraw from Golan

Ban Ki-moon says he regrets Austria’s decision to withdraw its troops from the UN peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights.

Syrian MP: Army Has Green Light to Respond to Israeli Attacks

The Syrian army has the green light to respond to any future Israeli attack without referring back to its “leadership,” says lawmaker.

Hollande: World Must Act Over Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

French President Francois Hollande says that the world is obligated to act in response to evidence of sarin being used in Syria.

Arab League Condemns Hizbullah's Involvement in Syria

Arab League foreign ministers, meeting in Cairo, condemn Hizbullah's involvement in the Syrian civil war.

U.S. Officials: Patriots May Remain in Jordan After Drill

United States officials confirm that Patriot missiles and F-16s being deployed to Jordan for military exercises may be kept there.

France: Syria Used Sarin Gas, So All Options Are on the Table

French Foreign Minister says that tests on chemical samples from Syria make it certain that Sarin was used in the country.

Putin: Syria Doesn't Yet Have S-300

The delivery of Russian missile systems to Syria is legal but the contract "has not yet been realized," says Russian President.

U.S. to Send Patriots and F-16s to Jordan

The United States will send a Patriot missile battery and F-16 fighters to Jordan for a military drill and may keep the weapons there.

Gulf States to Consider Measures Against Hizbullah

Gulf States will consider taking measures against Hizbullah if it continues its involvement in Syria’s civil war.

Rebels Post Video of Tank Kill

Advanced anti-tank missile used to demolish a Syrian Army tank east of Damascus.

Radical Qaradawi Calls for 'Jihad' Against Syria and Hizbullah

Radical Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi calls on Sunni Muslims to join the rebels fighting the Syrian regime.

Iran Slashing Hamas Funding

Hamas's support for Syrian rebels may cost it millions of dollars per month in Iranian aid.

Lebanese MPs Pelted with Tomatoes After Elections Delayed

Activists threw tomatoes at Lebanese members of parliament after they extended the parliament’s mandate by 17 months.

Hamas's Mashaal: Assad Refused to Accept Political Solution

Hamas left Syria because Assad refused to consider a political solution to the conflict in the country, says leader Khaled Mashaal.

UN Blacklists Syrian Al-Nusra Front

UN Security Council blacklists the Syrian group Al-Nusra Front, adds it to its global sanctions list because of its links to Al-Qaeda.

Kerry: S-300 Deal Endangers Israel

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Russia's deal to sell S-300 to Syria is "not helpful" and puts Israel at risk.

U.S. Officials: Assad Doesn't Have S-300 Yet

Syrian President bluffing when he says that Russian advanced missile systems have already begun arriving in his country, U.S. officials say.

Assad: Next Time, We'll Bomb Israel

Syrian leader says there is "popular pressure" to open a military front against Israel on the Golan Heights.

U.S.: We Support Israel’s Ability to Defend Itself

The United States reiterates that Israel has the right to defend itself, even if Russia sells advanced missiles to Syria.

Syrian FM: Assad Will Remain President Until 2014

Syria's Foreign Minister says that Assad will remain in power until 2014 and will run again if the people want him to.

Netanyahu: We Anticipate a Deterioration

Israeli leaders expect regional stability to deteriorate, PM says.

Rebels to Hizbullah: Stop Attacking Us Or We'll Hunt You to Hell

Free Syrian Army warns Hizbullah to end its involvement in the Syrian conflict within 24 hours.

U.S. Backs EU, Condemns Russia Over Syria

The U.S. condemns Russia for selling advanced missile systems to Syria, welcomes EU's lifting of an arms embargo.

Report: Obama Asks for Plan for No-Fly Zone Over Syria

The White House has asked the Pentagon to draw up plans for a no-fly zone inside Syria, administration officials say.

Report: 'Solid Proof' of Assad's Chemical Weapons Use

Reporters returned from Syria with samples of weapons used by President Bashar Assad’s army.

Senator McCain Visits Syria, Meets Rebels

Sen. John McCain, a proponent of U.S. military action in Syria, crossed the Syrian border and met with rebels.

EU Agrees to Lift Arms Embargo on Syria

European Union foreign ministers agree to lift an arms embargo on Syria, but no decision made to supply weapons to rebels.

Jordanian MPs in Fistfight

Physical altercation between MPs as prime minister addresses prices of electricity.

Lebanon: Rockets Hit Hizbullah Neighborhood

Two rockets explode in Hizbullah-dominated southern Beirut, injuring at least four people.

Report: Russia Cancels S-300 Deal with Syria

Israel has convinced Russia to cancel the sale of advanced missile systems to Syria, says a Russian official.

Expert: Assad May Choose 'Samson Option'

Dr. Mordechai Kedar says Assad could attack Israel viciously if he has nothing to lose.

Nasrallah: If Syria Falls, Israel will Win

Syria is “the rear guard” of Hizbullah, says Nasrallah. "We are idiots if we do not act" to save Assad.

Kerry and Lavrov to Meet and Talk About Syria

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris for talks on Syria's conflict.

Lebanese President Cautions Hizbullah Over Syria Fighting

Lebanon's President Michel Sleiman cautions Hizbullah over its fighting alongside regime troops in neighboring Syria.

'Assad Has Chemicals that Can Eradicate Entire Towns'

Assad has enough sarin to "eradicate the whole of Damascus," says a former scientist for the Syrian chemical weapons program.

Hizbullah Has Lost 75 Terrorists in Syria So Far

75 Hizbullah terrorists have been killed in Syria since they first became involved in the country’s civil war.

Defense Minister: Iran Remains the Biggest Threat

"The possibility of Iran having a nuclear weapon is a nightmare for the entire world. We must prepare," says Yaalon.

Sarkozy Hits Out at Europe Over Syria

"Europe is impotent and watching Israel act alone in Syria," says former French President during visit to Israel.

Senate Committee Approves Legislation to Arm Syrian Rebels

A key Senate committee approves legislation that calls for the U.S. to provide small arms to moderate rebels fighting Assad.

Gantz Warns Assad: Don't Escalate the Situation

"If Assad causes the situation in the Golan Heights to deteriorate, he will pay the price," warns IDF Chief of Staff.

The New Syria: Flogging in the Town Square

Islamist rebel forces have begun holding sharia-based trials and meting public punishment.

Defense Minister: We Destroyed Syrian Target

Syria says it destroyed an IDF vehicle; IDF denies this, but says IDF vehicle was damaged and IDF fired back.

Obama Voices Concern Over Hizbullah Involvement in Syria

Obama tells Lebanese President Michel Suleiman he is concerned about the involvement of Hizbullah terrorists in Syrian civil war.

Israel's Interests in Syria

Gunfire at IDF from Syria Border

IDF assesses that the gunfire is spillover from fighting in Syria. No one is hurt.

Senior Hizbullah Official Killed in Syria Fighting

Senior Hizbullah terrorist Fady al-Jazzar reportedly among those killed in intense fighting in the Syrian town of Qusayr.