Syria

Top Syrian Minister Killed in Damascus Attack

Syria’s Defense Minister has been killed in a suicide bombing in Damascus.

Defecting Syrian General Confirmed to be in France

General Manaf Tlas, who defected from Assad's regime this month, is confirmed by President Hollande to be in France.

Syrian Rebels Plan to Intensify Attacks in Damascus

Syrian rebels will intensify attacks inside Damascus and target sensitive security installations in operation to “liberate Damascus”.

Assad Pulls Troops from Israeli Border to Defend Damascus

Assad has pulled troops from the Israeli border to defend Damascus against rebels. Rebels claim they shot down a government helicopter.

Tunisian Leadership: 'No Normalization with Israel'

The leading party in Tunisia's government has reiterated its opposition to normalization of ties with Israel.

PA Told Clinton: No Weapons or Prisoners, No Talks

PA PM Fayyad met in Jerusalem with US Secy of State Clinton, but said nothing new: no talks with Israel without concessions first.

Assad Regime 'Ready to Use Chemical Weapons'

The most senior Syrian politician to defect to the opposition told the BBC that regime will not hesitate to use chemical weapons.

Security Council to Vote on Sanctions on Syria

UN Security Council will vote on a resolution that threatens Syrian authorities with sanctions if they do not stop using heavy weapons.

Syrian Intelligence Chief Defects to Rebel Forces

The head of Syrian intelligence has allegedly left the country and defected. His whereabouts are unknown.

Heavy Fighting in Syrian Capital

Heavy fighting has been reported in the heart of Damascus, with the main highway to the south of the country severed.

Video: Syrian Systematic Torture Chambers Exposed

Defectors from Syria, including a soldier captured by rebels, confirm victims’ accounts of systematic torture and rape.

Iran Offers to Host Syria Crisis Talks

Iran has offered to host talks between Syria's government and opposition in Tehran, its foreign minister said Sunday.

Syria: 'Most Intense' Fighting Reported in Damascus

Syria's army blasts rebel strongholds in Damascus, sparking the “most intense” fighting in the capital since the revolt erupted.

Assad Troops Shell Syrians Near Aleppo

Government troops continued to shell civilians with heavy artillery on Sunday in a civil war now being monitored by the United Nations.

Israeli Groups Aiding Syrian Refugees in Jordan, Turkey

Israeli aid groups are providing humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees who have fled to Jordan and Turkey, said Likud MK Ayoub Kara.

UN Probes Syrian Massacre

United Nations monitors entered a village Saturday to probe reports of a massacre.

Clinton 'Outraged' by Syria Massacre, Urges UN Action

U.S. Secretary of State Clinton outraged by reports of massacre in Syria, demands the UN Security Council take action.

World Condemns Assad for Latest Massacre

Syria's opposition urges UN action in Syria, as world condemns massacre of more than 200 people in Hama.

Defecting Syrian Diplomat: Only Force Can Bring Down Assad

Nawaf Fares, Syria's ambassador to Iraq who defected: There is no way Assad can be pushed from power without force.

Israel Preparing for Action in Syria, Says Former Mossad Chief

Former Mossad chief Danny Yatom: Israel is preparing for military action in Syria, if its chemical weapons end up in the hands of Hizbullah.

Assad's Forces Massacre Hundreds in Hama

Syrian government troops, using tanks and helicopters, massacre more than 100 people in the province of Hama.

West Seeks Sanctions on Assad if Violence Continues

Western powers seek a UN resolution that gives Assad ten days to silence his heavy guns or face tough sanctions.

Syria's Ambassador to Iraq Defects

Syria's ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf Fares, has defected from the regime of embattled President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian Opposition Appeals to Mother Russia

Syrian opposition forces appeal to Moscow for intervention after UN and Arab League efforts fail to stop the slaughter by government troops.

US Refuses to Reveal Details on Downed Turkish Jet

U.S. officials claim they know the details regarding the Turkish jet downed by Syria last month, but refuse to reveal them to the public.

Russia Sends Naval Flotilla to its Base in Syria

Russia sends a naval flotilla of seven warships to its naval base at Tartus. Officials claim deployment unrelated to Syrian unrest.

Annan in Iraq Seeking Solution to Syrian Crisis

UN special envoy Kofi Annan is barnstorming the Mideast region looking for allies in his quest to end the ongoing bloodshed in Syria

Iran Producing Deadly Anti-Tank ‘Kornet’ Missile

Iran is copy-catting the deadly Russian Kornet anti-tank missile that Hizbullah used against Israeli soldiers in the Second Lebanon War.

Russia Suspends New Arms Shipments to Syria

Russia on Monday signaled that it would not sign new weapons contracts with Syria so long as the situation in the country remains unstable.

Haifa's Rambam Hospital Prepared to Treat Syrian Casualties

Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara tours Haifa's Rambam Hospital, assured it is prepared to receive casualties from Syria.

Annan Arrives in Tehran After Damascus Talks

UN special envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Iran, where he hopes to enlist the aid of Tehran in salvaging his already sunk Syrian peace plan

Annan Sees 'Progress' as Syrian Blood Flows

UN special envoy Kofi Annan says his talks with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad were 'productive' as at least 100 more are slain.

McCain Blasts Obama Administration's Handling of Syrian Crisis

Sen. McCain condemned the Obama administration’s handling of the Syrian crisis, saying said the U.S. is not doing enough to help rebels.

Iran Elected to Top Post at UN Arms Trade Treaty Conference

Iran has been elected as one of the 15 members of the United Nation’s Arms Trade Treaty conference, according to UN Watch exclusive report.

Assad Blames U.S. for Fueling Uprising

In an interview on German TV, Syrian President Bashar Assad says the U.S. is partnering with those “terrorists”.

Syrian Army Launches Military Drill as World Watches

The Syrian Army has launched a major military drill, according to an announcement by the country's official SANA news agency.

Ban Calls to Reduce Number of Syria Observers

Ban Ki-moon calls to reduce the number of unarmed military observers in Syria, put more stress on political efforts to end the conflict.

U.S. Welcomes Defection of Top Syrian General

U.S. says the defection of a top general from the Syrian regime is “significant”, but notes that Assad still “has loyalists around.”

France, Syrian Opposition Call for More Sanctions

More than 100 nations attended the Friends of Syria conference in Paris to discuss ways to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

Top Syrian General Defects to Turkey

Manaf Tlass, a Syrian general who was a leading member of Assad's inner circle, has defected to Turkey.

Italian Company Sold Technology to Syria - and Israel

An Italian company revealed to have sold technology to Syria also won an Israel Railways tender.

WikiLeaks to Release 2.5 Million Syrian Cables

The self-appointed whistle blowers of WikiLeaks have begun releasing a trove of Syrian emails revealing Western ties.

Syria Violence Renders Observer Force Moot

UN observer chief Maj. Gen. Robert Mood says his force cannot resume its mission amid escalating violence; slams diplomats failures

15th General Defects from Syria to Turkey

A Syrian general and a number of soldiers among 66 Syrians who flee into Turkey in one day.

Al-Qaeda Inspired Group Claims Syria Attacks

Al-Nusra, an Al-Qaeda inspired group, has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks across Syria.

Moscow Cuts Odds on Assad's Survival: '10%'

Sources close to the Kremlin say Russian leaders have a grim view of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's future as a leader; no to asylum.

Turkey Finds Bodies of Downed Pilots

Military officials in Ankara say they have located the remains of two pilots downed by Syria on July 22; working to recover them from seabed

Annan Spokesman: Syria Ceasefire 'Imperative'

The death toll in the 16-month uprising against the Syrian regime tops 16,500 in President Bashar al-Assad's 'torture archipelago.'

Assad Wishes Downed Jet Had Been Israeli

Assad is sorry that his forces downed a Turkish plane but added, "I might have been happy if this had been an Israeli plane.”

Report: 85 Syrian Soldiers Defect to Turkey

Nearly 300 Syrians have defected to Turkey, including 85 soldiers, Turkey's state-run news agency reports.

Assad Targets Opposition Leaders with ‘Counter-Terrorism’ Laws

The Syrian regime ramps up its offensive; passes new counter-terror law, as opposition leaders discuss a 'post-Assad' Syria.

Turkish FM Urges Syrian Opposition to Unity

Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu warned Syria's often fractious opposition against discord saying only al-Assad would benefit

Syria Rebels Gaining Ground

Free Army forces having more success in fighting against the Assad regime, as defections continue.

Russia May Have Helped Down Turkish Jet

Russia may have helped shoot down the Turkish aircraft near Syria, officials tell The Sunday Times newspaper.

Syria: At Least 83 Killed as Forces Storm Damascus Suburb

At least 83 people killed across Syria, hundreds trapped in Douma as regime forces storm the town in Damascus province.

Syria Transition Plan Could Leave Assad Running Syria

Major powers came up with a plan for a government transition in Syria, that could leave Bashar al-Assad in charge of the country

Syrian Troops Continue to Bombard Damascus Suburb

Syrian troops bombard a rebellious suburb of Damascus with tank and artillery shells, killing dozens of people.

Kofi Annan Optimistic as Syria Bleeds

UN special envoy Kofi Annan says he believes a ministerial crisis talk on Syria will yield 'an acceptable result.'

Hamas Man Assassinated – but Who Did It?

A senior Hamas terrorist is killed in Damascus. Hamas blames Israel, Syrians blame Syria.

Syrian Tanks Gather on Turkish Border

Syrian rebels say Assad is sending tanks to the Turkish border. Turkey has sent troops toward Syria.