Syria

Seventeen countries launch Syria peace talks

Every outside country involved in Syria, including US and EU, begin critical talks to solve four-year conflict.

Assad kills 40 in Damascus bombing bonanza

Death toll expected to rise in regime rocket and mortar barrage on market in rebel-held Damascus suburb.

Iran may back away from demand to keep Assad in power

Senior official says Iran may accept a six-month transition in Syria, followed by elections to decide ally Assad's fate.

German rapper who joined ISIS killed in Syria airstrike

Denis Cuspert, a German rapper who joined ISIS, likely killed in American airstrike in Syria.

Monitor confirms Russian airstrikes near Israeli border

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights notes this is first time Russian planes have carried out strikes in southern Daraa province.

Sources: Russia helping Iran deliver weapons to Syria

Western sources say Russia has been helping Iran deliver weapons into Syria twice a day over the past 10 days.

Assad: West is backing 'terrorists' in Syria

Syrian President accuses Western states, including France, of supporting terrorist groups - meaning rebels - in his country.

Russia rejects UN resolution on Syrian barrel bombs

Russia says it will not back a proposed draft UN Security Council resolution aimed at stopping barrel bomb attacks in Syria.

US denies slowing anti-ISIS campaign

US-led coalition strikes against Islamic State in Syria have dwindled from 359 in July to a measly 92 this month.

Are Russia and Iran serious about Syria talks?

Saudi FM says if Assad allies are serious 'we will know, and if they aren't we'll stop wasting time with them.'

Russia launches record 24-hour bombing blitz in Syria

Russian jets hit 118 targets in a day, beating Monday's previous record, as Moscow escalates airstrike campaign.

'The Middle East we have known is over'

American, French intelligence agency leaders talk facts on Syria conflict, reveal that a military solution may be 'impossible.'

US reveals: Over 3,000 Iranian troops in Syria, Iraq

Top US military officer says Iran has 2,000 soldiers in Syria, 1,000 in Iraq; Defense Sec. hints at 'direct US action on the ground.'

Despite Russia: ISIS advances on key regime stronghold

ISIS breaks through outer defenses of key regime base in northern Syria that houses large weapons depots, possibly chemical weapons.

ISIS uses Palmyra historic site to execute three people

ISIS executes three people in Syria's ancient city of Palmyra by binding them to three historic columns and blowing them up.

Syria: 120,000 displaced in one month

Intense fighting in Aleppo, Hama, Idlib creating more refugees than ever before.

Syrian Kurds accuse Turkey of attacking their positions

YPG says Turkish forces attacked their forces along the Syrian-Turkish border, as Kurdish-Turkish tensions escalate.

Border jumping

Family claims 'ISIS' paraglider had an 'accident'

Family of Arab citizen who snuck into Syria to join jihadists say they will ask PM to return him - despite contradicting family testimony.

Assad: We must eradicate 'terrorism' before political solution

Syrian President says country must eradicate terrorism to find a political solution to its civil war.

Israeli Arab who paraglided into Syria 'alive and well'

Anonymous caller makes contact with family of Arab man believed to have joined rebels in southern Syria.

Netanyahu: Temple Mount cameras 'in Israel's interest'

Controversial decision to use technology to ban Jewish prayer at the holy site is a solution to terror, PM insists.

Russia: Assad willing to hold new elections

According to Russian legislator Alexnader Yushchenko, Syria's president is ready to take part in polls 'if the people are not against it.'

Cleared for publication: Israeli Arab paraglided into Syria

23 year-old man from the Golan Heights crossed the border via parasail; IDF investigating.

John Kerry looks to Arab countries for help with Syria crisis

US Secretary of State talks with Arab leaders to find new ideas to end Syrian civil war.

ISIS's latest execution: running over a prisoner with a tank

New ISIS video shows prisoner 'confessing' to killing jihadists with a tank, then sentenced to be run over himself.

Eight Iranians killed in Syria

Iran confirms that Eight Iranians, two of them Revolutionary Guards forces, have been killed in Syria in recent days.

Russia, US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia start talks on Syria

Top diplomats begin quest to end Syria conflict; all four countries support rebel groups fighting Assad.

France to present UN resolution banning Syrian barrel bombs

French President Laurent Fabius vows to 'ensure Syrian regime stops bombing civilians' by submitting UN resolution.

Syrian doctors: Russia bombed nine hospitals

Syrian-American Medical Society reveals Russia is hitting medical facilities and killing staff; latest strike kills 10, wounds 28.

Western countries to present UN resolution on Syria barrel bombs

Britain, France and Spain to present a draft resolution to Security Council on stopping the Syrian regime from using barrel bombs.

Putin accuses West of 'double game' with Syria terrorist groups

Russian President accuses West of declaring a fight against some Syrian groups while supporting others.

Putin's high-stakes Syria gamble: with or without Assad

Experts reveal surprise Moscow summit may have discussed replacement for Assad in an attempt to expand Russia's global influence.

Global Islamic State attacks on alarming rise

Islamic State committed over 1,000 attacks, killing nearly 3,000 people, in the last three months alone.

Iran: We won't keep Assad in power forever

Iran's deputy foreign minister says his country won't keep Syrian president in power forever and will let the people decide.

Russian Airstrike Hits Syrian Field Hospital, Kills 13

At least 127 of the 370 killed in Russia's aerial war over Syria were civilians, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.

Assad Makes Secretive Surprise Visit to Moscow

Assad makes secretive first foreign visit abroad since war started in 2011; in Moscow, hints of a new diplomatic front are raised.

Syrian Regime, Rebels Destroy Heritage Sites as Much as ISIS

New research analyzing satellite imagery finds 26% of looted sites in Kurdish or other rebel control, 16.5% Syrian regime, and 21.4% ISIS.

US, Russia Sign Memorandum to Avoid Syria Dogfights

In order to avoid 'incidents' between US and Russian jets conducting Syria airstrikes, two sides seal safety measure memorandum.

Leading Security Institute: Israel Should Topple Assad Now

INSS head Amos Yadlin argues that Russia's involvement offers Israel an opportunity to weaken Iran-Hezbollah threat.

Syria: Russian Airstrikes Kill 370 in 20 Days

At least a third of casualties are civilians, including dozens of women and children - only 52 ISIS.

Airstrikes Kill 40 ISIS Jihadists in Syria

Airstrikes on an ISIS convoy kill at least 40 jihadists in central Syria.

Pentagon Says 'Khorasan Group' Leader Killed in Syria Air Strike

US claims core of veteran Al Qaeda terrorists known as 'Khorasan Group' has been plotting attacks on American soil from Syria.

Havana Denies Cuban Soldiers Sent to Syria

Officials strenuously deny reports up to 300 Cuban soldiers may be fighting for Assad.

UN: Airstrikes Leaving Many Without Aid in Syria

Both Russian and US-led airstrikes making it difficult to get aid convoys to those in need, UN warns.

Syria Kurds Denounce Amnesty 'War Crimes' Report

YPG forces outraged after Amnesty International accuses anti-ISIS forces of 'collective punishment.'

Turkey Downs Drone Near Syrian Border

Accusations remain airborne between Ankara, Moscow after Russia denies violating Turkish airspace.

Syria Death Toll Tops a Quarter Million

Staggering death toll of civil war includes at least 74,426 civilians, and among them 12,517 children and 8,062 women.

Top Iranian Commander Visits Syria

Qassem Soleimani spotted in Syria addressing Iranian military officers and members of Hezbollah.

United States Ready to Drop Weapons to Syrian Rebels

American official says the United States military is poised to boost its supply runs to rebels fighting ISIS in northern Syria.

Are Assad's Serial Torturers Infiltrating Europe?

Around 500 'shabiha' of Assad's brutal regime have allegedly been spotted by Syrian refugees, infiltrating the continent among them.

Russia Announces Syria 'Hotline' with Israel

Russian defense ministry says a special 'hotline' establish to avoid fighter jet dogfights in Syria, where it is propping up Assad.

Briton Who Travelled to Syria: ISIS 'Not My Cup of Tea'

British woman who fled ISIS with her five children after travelling to Syria says she didn't enjoy the experience.

American, Russian Militaries Close to Pact on Safety in Syria

American defense official says the United States and Russia could soon sign a pact establishing safety protocols in Syria.

Airlines Stop Flying Over Iran Over Missile Concerns

Some airlines stop flying over the region amid concerns over Russian airstrikes in Syria. At least one has missed and hit Iran.

Two Top Iranian Officers Killed in Syria

Less than a week after its elite commander in Syria falls in battle, senior Iranian officers killed fighting ISIS.

Putin Blasts US as Having 'Mush for Brains'

Russian President slams Washington for refusing to share intelligence with Moscow on Syria conflict.

Two Rockets Hit Russian Embassy in Damascus

After 300 people gather to support Russian airstrikes, rockets slam into embassy sowing panic; casualty counts still unknown.

IDF Fires Artillery at Syrian Army

In response to 'spillover' mortar shells, IDF launches strikes on Syrian army targets, which it holds responsible for attacks.

Amnesty Accuses Syrian Kurds of 'War Crimes'

Amnesty says Kurdish forces displaced Syrians and demolished their homes while operating in the northern part of the country.

Hezbollah Buries Senior Commander Killed in Syria

Hezbollah buries leading commander who it says was killed "performing his jihadist duties in Syria".