Syria

Two-Day Ceasefire Agreed Upon in Three Syrian Towns

For the second time in two weeks, warring sides agree to a 48-hour ceasefire in the town of Zabadani and two Shiite villages in Idlib.

Iran Sending Afghan Refugees as 'Cannon Fodder' for Assad

Iran exploiting Afghan Shi'ite refugees by coercing them to prop up Syrian regime for incentives, leading to many of their deaths.

ISIS Publishes Images of Destruction of Palmyra Temple

ISIS publishes images showing the destruction of the Baal Shamin temple in Syria's ancient city of Palmyra.

Doctors Without Borders: Syrians Likely Exposed to Chemicals

Doctors Without Borders reports treating four patients in Syria who showed symptoms of exposure to chemical agents.

Assad 'Confident' of Russia's Support

Syrian President says he is confident Russia will continue supporting his embattled regime, accuses America of abandoning its allies.

Assad: Fighting 'Terrorists' More Important than Fighting Israel

Syrian President says his country must first deal with anti-regime rebels before it responds to last week's Israeli airstrikes in Syria.

ISIS Destroys Ancient Temple in Palmyra

Islamic State jihadists destroy the Baalshamin Temple in the ancient ruins of Palmyra, realizing the worst fears of archaeologists.

Meet Iran's Islamic Jihad Cell that Attacked Israel

ID of 5 Palestinian terrorists who fired rockets last week unveiled; license plates show they hailed from Iran hub of Damascus.

Prosor to UN: Condemn Syria Rockets, Don't Call for Restraint

Israel’s UN ambassador calls on the Security Council to condemn rocket fire from Syria instead of calling on both sides to show restraint.

ISIS Demolishes Ancient Monastery in Syria

ISIS demolishes monastery founded more than 1,500 years ago in central Syria.

IDF Eliminates Rocket Terror Cell, Possibly Senior Colonel

Syrian media reports a senior Syrian colonel and his aides among the dead in IDF airstrike response to rocket fire.

Netanyahu: 'You Rush to Embrace Iran, They Fire Rockets at Us'

PM warns 'we'll harm those who try to harm us,' slams world powers for nuclear deal after 'Iranian commander ordered rocket strike.'

Syria Reports 1 Soldier Killed in IDF Airstrikes

Syrian army source says Israeli strikes in response to rocket fire left 1 dead, 7 wounded at army post in Quneitra.

'Weak sauce'

Liberman: IDF Response to Syria Was 'Bulls***'

Ex-FM criticizes IDF retaliation to rocket fire, saying strikes on infrastructure mean 'they hit empty space pretending to do something.'

Iran Welcomes UN's Peace Plan for Syria

Iran welcomes peace plan for Syria approved by the UN Security Council, says Assad's regime must be directly involved.

Ya'alon: Rocket Fire a 'Promo' for a More Dangerous Iran

Defense Minister links Iran with rocket fire from Syria, warns things will get worse once the sanctions are lifted.

IDF Hits 14 Targets in Syria Following Rocket Fire

In a joint operation involving the IAF, the artillery corps and the armored corps, IDF hits 14 targets belonging to the Assad regime.

Iran Behind Rocket Fire on Golan, Says Senior IDF Officer

The order to fire rockets from Syrian territory was given by a senior officer in Iran's Al-Quds force, according to the IDF.

IDF Responds to Syrian Missiles with Artillery Fire

Hours after 4 rockets fired at northern Israel from Syria, IDF returns fire, accusing regime of responsibility for allowing strikes.

Syria Blasts UN Envoy for Criticizing Barrel Bomb Attacks

Syria's government slams Staffan de Mistura for his criticism of regime air raids that killed nearly 100 people.

ISIS Beheads Antiquities Scholar in Palmyra

ISIS jihadists behead an 82-year-old antiquities scholar in ancient Syrian city, then hang his body on a column in a main square.

Chemical Watchdog 'Concerned' by ISIS Use of Mustard Gas

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons voices serious concern over reports that ISIS used chemical weapons.

UN Security Council Backs New Syria Peace Plan

Security Council backs a new push for peace talks in Syria, in a measure adopted by Russia.

US Condemns Assad's 'Disregard for Human Life'

US demands Syrian President Bashar al-Assad be given the boot after nearly 100 killed in devastating regime strike in Syria.

As World Watches: Syrian Regime Carpet Bombs Market

Regime deploys 'scorched earth' policy in 10 strikes on busy market with death toll nearing 100; 'appalled' UN accused of accountability.

Testing Confirms ISIS Used Mustard Gas in Syria

Officials say test results from ISIS attack in Syria confirm mustard agent was used. Similar attack in Iraq still under investigation.

UN Aid Chief to Pay Visit to Syria

Stephen O'Brien, the UN's top aid official, will pay his first visit to Syria next week to step up relief efforts for the war-torn country.

Syrian Opposition Defends Moscow Support for Assad

Despite Moscow's open support for the Syrian regime, Damascus's opposition in exile insists Russia is only trying to find a solution.

Turkey Building Fence to Keep Syria Spillover Out

Ankara building concrete security fence, digging trenches against the onslaught of ISIS and other terror attacks.

UN Council to Meet on Islamic State Gay Attacks

First-ever meeting on 'sexual minorities' to be spearheaded by the US, Chile.

Syrian Opposition Insists: Assad Must Go

Syria's main opposition group meets Russian foreign minister, rejects calls to join forces against ISIS.

US Accuses Syria of Barrel Bomb Escalation

US envoy to UN calls for global action after regime drops over 2,000 lethal crude bombs on civilian areas since July.

Russian FM Caught in Saudi Hot Mic: 'F***ing Morons'

Hold that thought: Lavrov caught cussing in meeting on Syrian conflict - was he targeting cameramen, or Saudi counterpart?

Rebels Close in on Assad's Latakia Bastion

Rare lethal rocket attack strikes capital of Assad's Alawite sect's heartland on western coast, as rebels close in on key regime stronghold.

Venezuela Delays UN Resolution on Syria

A UN Security Council approval of a draft statement on Syria delayed because of objections from Venezuela.

Iran Calls on Arab Neighbors to 'Fight Terrorism'

Pot, meet kettle: Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif calls on Arab world to 'fight terrorism' as Tehran sponsors world terror.

Turkey, US Ready to Begin Anti-ISIS Mission

After a 'pause' for coordination, official says, Turkey and the US are ready to begin operations against Islamic State terror organizaiton.

Regime Airstrikes Near Damascus Kill 37 Civilians

Death toll keeps rising in bombardment that wounded at least 120, as rebels kill 13 in rocket strikes on Damascus.

NGO Documents Syrian Regime's 'War Crimes' Near Damascus

Bombings timed to terrorize civilians and use of starvation in Eastern Ghouta blockade constitutes 'crimes against humanity,' says Amnesty.

Obama to Press Ahead with Training of 'Moderate' Syrian Rebels

President Barack Obama's administration says it will continue with mission to train Syrian opposition fighters, despite initial failures.

Syria Rebels, Pro-Regime Forces Agree on 48-Hour Truce

Islamist groups and pro-regime forces agree on a ceasefire in flashpoint towns in northwest Syria and along the border with Lebanon.

Assad's Cousin Arrested Over 'Road Rage' Killing

Syrian authorities arrest Suleiman Al-Assad, a cousin of the president accused of killing a military officer in a road rage incident.

Turkey-Israel Relations Normalizing - Over Syria

Concern over both Assad and the terror groups vying to replace him is drawing Istanbul and Jerusalem together, top official reveals.

Power Shift? ISIS Trying to Conquer Key Rebel Supply Line

ISIS launches extended assault replete with suicide bombers to capture key villages in supply line from Turkey to Aleppo region.

Russia Slams 'Unfounded' Claims of Syrian Chemical Weapons

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov backs Syria after Security Council approves committee to investigate return of chlorine gas attacks.

Rebel Rocket Fire Kills 5 in Damascus

Rocket fire from rebel-held areas around Syrian capital kill five and wound 37.

Riyadh, Moscow to Meet Over ISIS, Syria

Russian and Saudi officials to meet over Middle East issues - just after news surfaces of a secret meeting between Russia, Iran.

Security Council Approves Syria Chemical Weapons Probe

UN Security Council votes unanimously to set up a panel to identify who is behind deadly chlorine gas attacks in Syria.

ISIS Abducts 60 Christians Who Already Fled Once

Will the Christian world respond? Large number of Christians among 230 total civilians kidnapped in capture of central Syrian town.

Oman and Syria to Work Together to End Civil War

Syria's Foreign Minister visits Oman, agrees with counterpart to work together to end brutal civil war.

Syrian Death Toll Tops 240,000

Of the nearly quarter million killed in four-year war, 12,000 were children, as the bloodshed shows no signs of stopping.

Will Perpetrators of Syria Chemical Attacks be Identified?

United States and Russia agree on draft UN resolution aimed at identifying the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Iran to Submit Syria Peace Plan to the UN

Iran says it will submit a new peace plan for war-ravaged Syria to the United Nations after holding consultations with Damascus.

Syria, Russia and Iran Huddle Up in Tehran

Day after Turkey claims Russia is going to drop Syria, key meeting of foreign ministers taking place - will it mark a shift in region?

White House: We'll Defend Syria Rebels with Airstrikes

White House confirms it will defend American-backed rebels in Syria with airstrikes if necessary.

United States Widens Sanctions on Syria

New American sanctions target individuals and entities providing energy products used by the Assad regime in fighting its own people.

Russia Condemns US Plan to Extend Syria Bombing

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pushes for 'immediate end to external intervention in the Syrian crisis.'

US May Take 'Additional Steps' to Defend Syria Allies

White House threatens Syrian regime not to interfere with US-backed groups after Al Qaeda affiliate kidnaps soldiers.

Mortar Shells Strike Golan Heights

Shells explode in an open area; strike presumed to be Syria spillover.

End of Assad? Erdogan Claims Putin Pulling Support

Putin 'may give up on Assad' according to Turkish president, in a sign that some of the last backers of Assad may leave him out to dry.