Syria

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.

Obama 'proud' of decision not to attack Syria

President says he does not regret not attacking Syria despite warning that its using chemical weapons would be crossing a red line.

New round of Syria talks to begin March 14

UN outlines timetable for Syria peace talks, slated to begin March 14 and last no longer than 10 days.

ISIS 'defense secretary' survived Syria airstrike

Top ISIS commander Omar al-Shishani was seriously injured but not killed in American strike in northeastern Syria, says monitoring group.

ISIS 'defense secretary' likely killed in Syria

Omar al-Shishani, ISIS equivalent of a defense minister, believed to have been killed in air strike in Syria.

Jihadist rebels seize key hilltops from Syrian regime

Al-Nusra Front and allied jihadists seize strategic hilltops in northern Syria.

Two 'radicalized' Syria-bound French teens return home

French teens suspected of trying to join ISIS in Syria returned home after two days. One now in deradicalization program.

Saudis demand Assad leave with no delay

Saudi FM says diplomatic process must start with Assad's ouster, emphasizing Syrians have already voted him out 'with their guns.'

NATO: Russia in the way of solving Syrian conflict

NATO says Russia is complicating the search for a solution to the Syrian conflict by bombing moderate opposition groups.

Air raids hit Syria rebel bastion despite truce

Monitor reports one dead in first regime or Russian airstrike on Eastern Ghouta since ceasefire took effect last weekend.

Inside look

Hezbollah vows to invade Israel in the next war

Unique sneak peak into Iran-proxy terror group reveals its updated arsenal and experience, and its confidence next war will be different.

It worked? 24 civilians dead during Syria ceasefire

Monitor records 'huge drop' in deaths, with 24 dead in 5 days - well below the average death toll for a single day.

State Department 'aware' of reports of Syria chemical attacks

State Department spokesman: Washington is aware of reports that chemical weapons were used in Syria, but can't confirm them.

Assad: We'll do our part to ensure ceasefire succeeds

Syrian President pledges to do his part to guarantee the success of shaky ceasefire, says it brings hope to the war-torn country.

Saudi official: Ground operation in Syria was discussed

Saudi official says international coalition contemplated a ground operation in Syria but hasn't yet decided on one.

First all-female ISIS battalion

Jihadist feminism? ISIS head Abu Bakr al-Baghdad reportedly appoints a woman to command a new battalion in Syria.

Syrian ceasefire breached numerous times

Just one day into truce, Saudis and opposition accuse Russia and Assad of at least 15 violations, Russia blames rebels for 9 breaches.

Al-Nusra Front leader urges rejection of ceasefire

Mohammad al-Jolani, head of Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, says ceasefire is shameful and should be rejected.

Russia pummels Syrian rebels hours before ceasefire

Monitor warns Russia conducting 'more intense than usual' wave of strikes, including on moderate opposition targets, to 'score points.'

Obama: We'll be relentless in going after ISIS

President Obama says Syria ceasefire will not affect the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group.

Syrian opposition agrees to observe ceasefire for two weeks

Syria's main opposition grouping says it will respect the provisional ceasefire to determine the commitment of the other side.

Canada arrests 60 citizens involved in terror

Canadian authorities arrest 60 citizens who had joined foreign terror groups. Another 180 still with the organizations.

Kerry claims he has a 'Plan B' for Syria

Kerry warns he has a backup plan if Assad and Russia aren't serious about political transition - could he mean a military escalation?

Syria death toll climbs past 270,000

Civil war raging since 2011 has left 79,106 civilians dead, including 13,500 children and 8,760 women, according to monitor's figures.

War-weary Syrians say ceasefire will fail

Resigned to the lethal civil war, Syrians call US-Russian ceasefire initiative 'a new way to numb the Syrian people.'