Syria

Syrian regime prepares to retake Aleppo

Syrian Prime Minister announces troops aided by Russian air cover are about to try and capture second-largest city from rebels.

ISIS singles out and executes Druze prisoners

Deal reached to release majority of 300 cement workers kidnapped by Islamic State - but 'spies' and non-Muslims executed.

Russia helps secure Syria's release of American citizen

Russia secures the release of Kevin Dawes, an American citizen who was detained in Syria in 2012.

Report: ISIS agrees to free abducted Syrian cement workers

Syrian group says mediators have reached an agreement for the release of some 300 cement workers kidnapped by the ISIS.

Report: Hezbollah building 'permanent' base, arsenal in Syria

While base at Qusair mainly serves to strengthen Hezbollah, Iranian interests in Syria, missile stockpiles are aimed at Israel as well.

Report: ISIS abducts over 300 Syrian workers

Syria's official news agency reports jihadists have seized cement factory workers, even as ISIS loses main supply route to Turkey.

Kerry asks Iran to stop its regional wars

Kerry calls on Tehran to 'prove it wants to be member of int'l community' by stopping its Houthi rebels in Yemen and escalation in Syria.

250 Syrian civilians feared kidnapped by ISIS near Damascus

Some 250 civilians have been missing since Monday, when Islamic State overran a cement factory east of Damascus.

Al-Nusra Front confirms death of its spokesman

Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate confirms Abu Firas al-Suri was killed in an American air strike earlier this week.

UN Syria envoy meets Lavrov ahead of peace talks resumption

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as peace talks are expected to resume next week.

Report: ISIS uses mustard gas against Syrian army

Syrian media says ISIS terrorists attacked Syrian army troops with mustard gas in an offensive against a military airport.

Pentagon confirms death of senior Al-Nusra Front member

Pentagon confirms it had targeted the spokesman of Syria's Al-Qaeda branch.

Revealed: How Assad cheated global sanctions

'Panama Papers' show how Syrian regime established shadow companies in the Seychelles to fool the world and fund its war.

Spokesman for Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate killed in air strike

Spokesman for Al-Nusra Front, his son and 20 other jihadists killed in the northeast of the country.

12 Hezbollah terrorists killed battling Al Qaeda in Syria

Al-Qaryatain falls after fierce fighting between regime loyalists and Islamic State, dealing jihadists yet another stinging defeat.

Syrian troops find mass grave in Palmyra

Days after recapturing Palmyra, Syrian troops find mass grave containing the bodies of 42 people executed by ISIS.

France accuses Syrian regime of violating ceasefire

France accuses Assad regime of trying to undermine efforts by the international community to resolve the conflict.

US 'appalled' by Syrian regime's breach of truce

State Department slams airstrikes on a school and hospital near Damascus that killed over 30 people, including 12 children.

Russian pressure? Assad is ready for elections

On heels of report revealing Russia agreed to turn its back on Assad and have him exiled, Assad says he has 'no problem' with elections.

White House: Assad role in unity government a 'non-starter'

White House says Syrian President should not be part of any transitional unity government.

Putin withdrawing from Syria? Au contraire

Reuters analysis reveals Russia is shipping even more equipment to Syria after Putin announced withdrawal of 'main force.'

France welcomes Palmyra conquest but raps Damascus for war

France hails recapture of ancient city of Palmyra, stresses that Damascus bears the main blame for the war in Syria.

CIA fighting the Pentagon in Syria

Syrian rebel groups backed by different parts of US defense establishment are shooting at each other.

State Department welcomes Assad recapture of Palmyra

United States welcomes the victory of Syrian President over ISIS in historic city of Palmyra, despite concern over his brutal record.

After Palmyra, Syrian regime eyes an ISIS rout

Assad's troops aim to capture more territory after key victory over ISIS, analysts predict jihadists will increase attacks abroad.

Civilian death toll drops to four-year low after Syria truce

More than 360 civilians killed during first month of an Syria ceasefire, the lowest monthly toll in four years.

Russia hands Syria its first major defeat of ISIS

Despite pullout, Russian ground and air forces heavily involved in helping regime conquer ancient city of Palmyra from ISIS.

Syrian army recaptures Palmyra from ISIS

Syrian army recaptures ancient city, a year after it was overtaken by the Islamic State group.

United States and Russia to push Syrian political transition

Kerry says he and Putin agreed to push Syrian regime and rebels to accelerate talks.

UNESCO chief welcomes operation to recapture Palmyra

UNESCO chief Irina Bokova welcomes Syria's push to recapture heritage city from ISIS jihadists.

Did Kerry bring money to bribe Putin?

What's in your briefcase? Putin ribs Kerry ahead of Syria peace talks.

Syria regime starts conquering Palmyra from ISIS

Regime forces enter ancient city captured by ISIS, slowed by boobytrap mines amid fierce fighting.

ISIS orders civilians in Syria's Palmyra to flee

ISIS tells 15,000 civilians to abandon city of Palmyra, as pro-Assad forces approach.

Mogherini demands progress in Syria peace talks

EU foreign policy chief meets Syria's regime and opposition, underscores the urgency of a political solution in the country.

Belgian intelligence had advance warning about attack

Belgian intelligence services had specific warnings about ISIS attack on airport, but didn't take it seriously enough.

Turkey detains Japanese jihadist on way to Syria

Japanese man caught trying to reach Syria. Police confirm he was in contact with jihadists there.

Syrian regime: Russia cannot pressure us

Regime chief negotiator says thinking Russian pullout weakens regime position is a 'misreading,' US-Russia meetings have no impact on talks.

Syrian regime eyes major victory in ancient Palmyra

Regime readies for assault on ISIS, hoping to recapture Palmyra and effectively cut ISIS territory in Syria from 40% to 30%.

Syria: Assad's fate has 'nothing to do' with peace talks

Syria's regime reiterates its stance that peace talks in Geneva will not address the future of President Bashar Al-Assad.

Syrian regime blames UN envoy for 'fruitless' peace talks

Source close to Damascus government blasts UN envoy for pressuring the regime to unveil a transition strategy.

Most Russian warplanes have left Syria, says American military

Spokesman for American military confirms that most if not all Russian warplanes have been withdrawn from Syria.

UN demands clear steps in Syria talks

UN Syria envoy wraps up week of peace talks, but sides remain fiercely divided over Assad's future.

Assad's negotiator: 'No talks till he shaves his beard'

Regime's elitist Jaafari rules out direct talks with Islamist opposition chief negotiator - unless he undergoes a grooming overhaul.

ISIS claims killing 5 Russian troops near Palmyra

Days after Putin announces pullout, ISIS announces it killed Russians near ancient city. Russian death toll previously had been at 4.

Kurds declare federal region in Syria, prompting Arab backlash

Declaration - which delivers a message not to leave Kurds out of peace talks - leads to objections from regime, opposition, and even US.

US administration fumbles on calling ISIS actions 'genocide'

John Kerry can't decide whether ISIS is carrying out genocide, just as administration couldn't figure out Syria 'red line.'

Ceasefire in Syria: Bad for the Jews?

The US-Russia ceasefire in Syria, and Russia's partial pullout from the venue, could be dangerous for Israel.

What can Israel gain from the Syrian war?

Israel has paid $15,000 for each Syrian it treats, in a humanitarian campaign that may be keeping enemies at bay.

Kerry to visit Putin as Syria peace hopes run high

West cautiously applauds Russian pullout as negotiations advance. Kerry to stop in Moscow to 'take advantage of this moment.'

Syria rebels declare 'victory' as Russia withdraws

Morale of rebels and activists 'sky high' with Russia pullout, as they estimate Assad 'cannot survive alone.'

After 'pullout,' Russia bombs Syria

Day after Putin orders out 'main part' of forces, Russian airstrikes help Syrian regime advance on ancient Palmyra, held by ISIS.

Swedish 'migrant' revealed to be ISIS terrorist from Syria

Haisam Omar Sakhanh, who has resided in Sweden since 2013, arrested for war crimes. Authorities say he was an ISIS executioner.

Obama, Putin discuss Russia's 'partial withdrawal' from Syria

US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin try to figure out how to end five-year-old Syrian civil war.

Syria: Russia will continue to support fight against 'terror'

Syrian presidency says Russia will keep up its support for the regime's "anti-terrorist" battle, following its pullout of forces from Syria.

American officials confirm: ISIS 'defense minister' is dead

Two American officials tell CNN that senior ISIS operative Omar al-Shishani is dead following an airstrike last week.

Putin orders withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin orders Defense Ministry to begin withdrawing troops from Syria. No explanation has been given.

Russia 'has evidence' Turkey invaded Syria

Foreign Minister Lavrov says Turkish troops have entered Syrian territory as part of a 'creeping expansion' on the border.

Syrian opposition: Assad must go, dead or alive

Syria's opposition says Assad must leave power if looming peace talks to end five years of civil war are to succeed.

UN calls for elections in Syria

Envoy urges UN-observed elections in 18 months, as Russia calls to include Kurds in negotiations.

Glimmer of hope as Syria war enters sixth year

Next week marks start of year 6 for Syrian war. Rare ceasefire likely to unravel if Assad's ouster cannot be agreed upon.