Syria

Claims of Turkey-Israel Pact Against Syria 'Groundless'

Turkish Foreign Minister hit back at Bashar al-Assad's claims that Ankara made a pact with Israel against Damascus.

Report: Hamas Training Syrian Rebels in Damascus

Hamas, a former ally of Assad, is now training the rebel Free Syrian Army in eastern Damascus, sources tell the British Times.

Assad: Erdogan Destroying Syria by Reconciling with Israel

Syria’s President charges that the improvement in the relations between Turkey and Israel is proof that Erdogan is trying to destroy Syria.

Iran: West Targeting Syria to Divert Attention from Israel

Senior Iranian lawmaker charges that the Western media is creating a hype against Syria in order to divert attention from “Israel’s crimes”.

UN: 4 Million People Are Displaced Inside Syria

The UN says some four million Syrians are displaced inside the country and in dire need of international help.

Syrian Regime Slams Hamas's Mashaal for Breaking with Damascus

A Syrian regime newspaper slams Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal for breaking with Damascus, says he's given up on resistance.

Assad: 'No Word of Truth' From Turkey's Erdogan

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accuses Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan of not having said "a single word of truth" about Syrian conflict.

Report: 'Israel Spies on Russian Fleet Off Syrian Coast'

Report: Israel allegedly used espionage equipment it planted off the Syrian coast to monitor Russian naval movements in Mediterranean.

Critically Wounded Syrian Transferred to Israeli Hospital

Israeli military medics transferred a critically wounded Syrian to a hospital in Israel after he crossed the armistice line on Golan Heights

Former American Soldier Charged With Fighting For Al-Qaeda

A former America soldier has been arrested and charged with terror offenses after he joined a Syrian Al-Qaeda-linked rebel group.

Iran, N. Korea, Syria Block Arms Trade Treaty

Iran, North Korea and Syria twice blocked attempts at the United Nations to agree on the first treaty on the conventional arms trade.

Iraqi Influx Doubles Syrian Al Qaeda-Linked Rebel Faction

Syria’s Al Nusra Front, allied with Al Qaeda, has more than doubled and is continuing to grow with the influx of jihadists from abroad.

Syrian Rebels Open First 'Embassy' in Qatar

The Syrian opposition opened its first "embassy” in Qatar on Wednesday.

Syria Slams Arab League for 'Giving Away' its Seat to Rebels

Syria had harsh words for the Arab League's decision to hand over Syria's seat in the League to rebel representatives

UN to Move Staff Out of Conflict-Ridden Syria

The United Nations is moving about half of its 100 international staff still in Syria out of the country due to the growing danger.

Report: CIA Helping Boost Arms Shipments to Syrian Rebels

Report: Arab nations and Turkey, assisted by CIA, have dramatically increased military aid to Syrian rebels in recent months.

Syrian Cleric Supported Blowing Up American and Israeli Targets

A pro-Assad cleric who was killed last week in a suicide bomb attack advocated for bombing American and Israeli targets around the world.

Kerry to Iraq: Stop Allowing Flights From Iran to Syria

Washington is "watching what Iraq is doing," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warns Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Syrian Rebels: Army Used Chemical Weapons Near Damascus

Members of the Syrian opposition claim that Assad’s forces fired phosphorous at rebels in the town of Adra.

UN to Investigate Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

The UN will investigate whether chemical weapons have been used in the Syria conflict, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says.

Damascus Suicide Bombing Kills 42, Including Pro-Assad Cleric

A suicide bomb attack on a mosque killed 42 people, including Syria's most prominent pro-regime Sunni cleric, and wounded dozens of others.

Calls for UN Inquiry Into Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

Britain, France and the U.S. call for a UN inquiry into accusations by the Syrian government and opposition of chemical weapons attacks.

Obama Careful Regarding Chemical Weapons in Syria

"We intend to investigate thoroughly exactly what happened," says Obama when asked whether chemical weapons were used in Syria.

Steinitz: 'Apparently Clear Chemical Weapons Used in Syria'

Either Syrian rebels or the Damascus regime have used chemical weapons in country's civil war, said Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz.

Netanyahu Invited to Russia To Discuss Mideast

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been invited to Moscow to discuss the current crises involving Syria and Iran.

U.S. Rep. Rogers: High Probability Syria Used Chemical Weapons

There is a high probability that Syria used chemical weapons against rebels, says chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee.

US Official: Iraq Turns Blind Eye to Iran Arms Flights to Syria

Baghdad is "looking the other way" as Iran sends military equipment through Iraqi airspace to Syrian regime, says American official.

Hizbullah Secretly Buries Terrorists Killed in Syrian Civil War

Hizbullah has secretly buried 38 of its terrorists who were killed on Syrian territory, the Free Syrian army says.

Syrian National Council Elects Prime Minister

Syria's main opposition National Council elects Ghassan Hitto as premier for swathes of rebel-held territory.

Syrian Aircraft Strike in Lebanon

Syrian aircraft bomb two locations in the eastern Lebanon town of Arsal. Washington denounces the act.

Syrian Rebels Seize Weapons Depots Near Aleppo

Syrian rebels have seized several weapons depots in the village of Khan Toman in Aleppo province after days of fierce clashes.

Report: Israel to Seek US Attack on Syria, or Freedom to Do So

Israel will ask President Obama to order US attack on Syria if Assad tries to transfer weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.

Syrian Army's Logistics Chief Defects

The Syrian army's logistics chief, General Mohammed Khalluf, has defected, activists claim.

British Royals Visit Syrian Refugees on Mideast Trip

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla visited Syrian refugee camp in northern Jordan as part of a trip to the Middle East.

UN Halts Peacekeeping Patrols in the Golan Heights

The UN has halted peacekeeping patrols in the Golan Heights amid fears that more countries may withdraw from its force.

PA Arabs Nabbed in Egypt, Suspected of Spying

Seven Palestinian Authority Arabs have been arrested by Egyptian security on suspicion of carrying out a military reconnaissance mission.

Syria Ready to Fight Rebels 'For Years'

Pro-government Syrian newspaper warns the army is "in perfect condition" and can "fight for years to defend Syria."

Syria, China, Iran: 'Enemies of the Internet'

Syria, China, Iran are flagrantly spying online, media watchdog RSF said Tuesday.

Peres Urges Arab League to 'Stop Syrian Massacre'

Delivering historic address to European Parliament, President Shimon Peres called for the Arab League to “to stop the massacre.”

Syrian Rebels Vow to Conquer Golan, Refugees Refuse Israeli Aid

Syrian refugees might be desperate, injured and starving – but they won’t accept Israeli aid, as rebels vow to reconquer the Golan Heights.

Barak: Assad's Fall 'Inevitable,' Israel May Pay the Price

According to outgoing Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the fall of Bashar al-Assad is inevitable. It's not good for Israel, he told MKs

Hizbullah's Number 2: Assad Regime Will Survive

The Hizbullah terror group’s number two, Sheikh Naim Qassem, says he is confident that the Assad regime in Syria would survive.

Report: U.S. Training Syrian Rebels in Jordan

The United States is training Syrian rebels in Jordan, the German weekly Der Spiegel reports.

Syria: Fighting Returns to 'Capital of the Revolution'

Syrian rebels launch a surprise raid to retake a key district of the central city of Homs, dubbed 'capital of the revolution'.

UN: Syrian Refugees May Double or Triple This Year

The number of Syrian refugees, which just passed the million mark, could double or triple by the end of the year, according to the UN.

Kidnapped UN Peacemakers Freed, Arrive in Jordan

Syrian rebels release 21 Filipino peacekeepers who had been kidnapped on the Golan Heights.

UN Delays Effort to Release Kidnapped Peacekeepers

The UN calls off an effort to secure the release of 21 peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels because of darkness in the Golan Heights.

Philippines: Syrian Rebels Remain Firm on Hostage Demands

Rebels holding 21 Filipino peacekeepers hostage in Golan Heights are insisting Syrian troops leave area before releasing their captives.

Israel Asked UN Not to Remove Forces from the Golan

Israel approached the UN, requesting that forces remain in the Golan despite the kidnapping of 21 peacekeepers.

Syrian Insider: Assad Made Deals, Agreements With Israel

Israel had nothing to fear from Bashar al-Assad, and may have even had an ally in him, a Syrian insider said in an interview

Syrian Authorities Claim they Found 'Israeli Equipment'

Syrian authorities claim they have discovered Israeli "espionage equipment" in an undisclosed location in the country.

Lebanese Druze Chief 'Sides With Devil' Against Assad

Lebanon's Druze leader has sided with the rebel Al-Nusra Front, a jihadist group which Washington lists as a terrorist organization.

20 UN Peacekeepers Held By Syrian Rebels on Golan Border

About 20 UN observers have been detained by about armed Syrian rebels on the Golan Heights border.

Syria, Iran Hail 'Martyr', 'Honorable' Chavez

Syria pays tribute to "honorable" Chavez, while Iran hails the late Venezuelan leader as "a martyr for his people."

Prosor Warns UN of Potential Escalation in Golan

UN ambassador Ron Prosor in a letter to the UN: Israel will not stand by while its citizens' lives are at risk from Syria's recklessness.

Kerry on Gulf Tour Pledges Backing for Syrian Rebels

Kerry said Washington will work to "empower" Syria's opposition, while warning Iran that time for talk on its nuclear program could run out

Yaalon: Israel Closely Monitoring Syrian Battlefronts

Deputy PM Yaalon says Israel closely monitoring Syrian battlefronts after reports that rebels seized Scud missiles from regime forces.

Assad Says Syria Will Hit Back at Israel

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vows to hit back at Israel over alleged airstrike in January, but says it may not be an overt attack.

Syrian Rebels Hang 'Palestinian Refugees' who Aided Assad

Syrian rebels hanged two Arabs registered as “Palestinian refugees” on suspicion of aiding the Assad, says a rights watchdog.

Syria Demands UN Stop Israel from Seeking Oil

Syria is angered by Israel’s search for oil in the Golan, calls for UN intervention.