Syria

Beirut Denies Syrian Incursion

A Lebanese Army officer said reports of a Syrian incursion into Lebanon were of a dubious nature due to nebulous border markings.

Syria Formally Accepts 'Annan Peace Plan'

President Bashar al-Assad has formally accepted a UN-backed peace plan penned by special envoy Kofi Annan.

Syria Fires on Lebanese as Deserters Flee Army

Syrian troops fired machine guns on a border town in northern Lebanon, but Beirut denied reports that Assad’s crossed the border.

Kara Charges Assad with Death of Syria Druze Leader

Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara says President Bashar Assad is behind the death of a Druze leader who died in a mysterious 'accident'.

Syrian Forces Resume Shelling of Homs — 8 Killed

Violence in Syria continues apace even as UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and President Bashar al-Assad exchange letters.

Turkey Closes Syrian Embassy; Death Toll at 10,000

The international noose is closing in on Assad. Turkey has shut down its Damascus embassy, and Russia warned Syria it faces civil war.

Medvedev Says Annan's Mission is 'Last Chance' for Syria

Russian President warns that Kofi Annan’s mission is the last chance for avoiding a civil war in Syria.

Druze Anti-Assad Leader Dies in Syria

A Syrian Druze leader has been killed in the city of Soueida, the country's Waqf Ministry and its Druze Unitarians' Sect announced.

US Human Rights Group: Syrian Army Using Human Shields

A US-based human rights group has accused the Syrian government army of using human shields in its war on rebels.

Pressured Assad Steps Up Tempo

Russia Shifting Position on Assad, Tells Him to Make Haste

For various reasons, Russia is moving away from its unwavering support for Bashar Assad.

EU Shopping Sanctions for Asmaa al-Assad

European foreign ministers have decided Asmaa al-Assad's extravagant shopping sprees must come to and end if Syria is to be free.

Syrian Tanks Shell Damascus Suburbs

Rebel raids on the Syrian capital have resulted in yet more shelling of civilian areas and President Bashar al-Assad fights to surrvive.

Security Council in Toothless Show on Syria

The UNSC has made a non-binding 'presidential statement' calling for a ceasefire and talks in Syria based on envoy Kofi Annan's proposals.

Damascus Suburbs Under Government Tank Fire

Syrian Army regulars attacked two large Damascus suburbs Wednesday, using tank fire in an attempt to rout entrenched rebel forces.

Videos of Assad’s Thug Squads

Videos emerge of Assad loyalists executing rebels and throwing bodies off rooftops. Russia is suspected of sending troops to help Assad.

Assad Control Freaking Out

Damascus Fighting and Wife's Emails Dent Myth of Assad Control

The Assad regime, however repressive, appeared to offer stability and control. Without that, who needs him?

Syrian General Staff Suffering Brain Drain

Generals continue to defect from Bashar al-Assad's army to join the rebels; two more left for Turkey as fighting erupted in Damascus.

Turkey Seeking Its Journalists in Syria

Turkey has asked the Syrian government to locate two of its nationals, working journalists, who have gone missing in the war-torn country.

Dozens Killed in Machine-Gun Battles in Streets of Damascus

The raging anti-Assad rebellion has reached Damascus, where rebels and Assad’s forces are locked in battle. Dozens are dead.

Report: Syria Imported 6 Times More Weapons Between 2007-2011

Syria imported six times more weapons between the years 2007 and 2011 than in previous years, says a Stockholm-based institute.

Video: Dozens Dead, Wounded in Damascus Car Bombs

Dozens of civilians and soldiers were killed and wounded in multiple explosions in Damascus. Rebels and the Assad regime blame each other.

27 Dead in Syria Bombing

Damascus car bombing kills 27, wounds 97. Bombers targeted soldiers, police.

Erdogan Considers Buffer Zone Along Border with Syria

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggests a safe zone could be established along his country’s border with Syria.

Egyptian Fatwa – Assassinate Assad!

A prominent Egyptian cleric has called for good Muslims everywhere to kill Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad saying failing to do so is a sin

Gulf States Close Embassies in Syria

All six Arab Gulf states will close their embassies in Syria in protest of the year-long crackdown on protesters.

Syrian Crisis Enters Second Year

In Syria: Saudi Arabia closes embassy; massacres continue; death toll approaches 9,000; some 230,000 are displaced; world remains deadlocked

Assad's E-mails Reveal Iranian Ties

A cache of several thousand e-mails sent by President Bashar Assad and his wife reveal he took advice from Iran on handling the uprising.

Russia Frustrated With Assad

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov made a rare show of public pique over Assad's slow adoption of recommended reforms in Syria.

UN: More Than 230,000 Syrian Refugees

The top UN official for refugees says hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been displaced since violence erupted in the country a year ago.

Syria Condemns Israel, Ignores Own Crackdown

Syria condemns Israeli air raids on Gaza, blatantly ignoring its own brutal crackdown on opposition protesters.

Syrian Troops Murder 55 in Idlib Massacre

In the second mass execution this week, forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad murder 55 in Idlib; UN remains deadlocked.

Moscow Refuses to Stop Arms Sales to Syria

Russia insists on fulfilling its 'contractual obligations' to provide arms to Syria even as reports of war crimes by Assad's regime emerge.

Syria: 47 Women and Children Murdered in Homs

The widely varied death toll in Monday's horrific massacre in Homs has solidified at 26 women and 21 children as Assad's forces "mop up"

It's Time For Arab Apartheid Week

Demonstration in Tel Aviv protesting Syrian bloodshed and the regime's heinous human rights violations, as part of Arab Apartheid Week.

Massacre in Homs

Reports of summary executions and mass arrests continue to emerge from Homs and the UN Security Council remains deadlocked on Syria.

Congressman: Impeach Obama if US Fights in Syria

A Congressman introduces a resolution calling for impeaching Obama if he sends US troops into Syria without Congressional approval.

Assad, Annan Meet as Troops Launch an Assault on Idlib

Visiting UN envoy Kofi Annan meets President Bashar Assad as military launches an anticipated assault on the city of Idlib.

Syrian Opposition Rejects Dialogue with Assad

Syrian opposition rejects calls by UN envoy Kofi Annan for dialogue with President Bashar Assad, putting a wrench in his peace plan.

Shelling Renewed in Homs Ahead of Annan Visit

As former UN secretary general Kofi Annan hopes for peace in Syria the crackdown of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad continues apace.

U.S., Jordan Plan to Face Syrian Weapons Threat

U.S., Jordan prepare to secure Syria’s chemical and biological weapons in case the government loses control.

Syria's Deputy Oil Minister Defects, Joins Rebels

Syria's deputy oil minister joins rebels, become the highest-ranking civil official to defect from Assad's regime.

UNESCO Condemns Syria But Won't Kick it Out

UNESCO condemns Syria for its brutal crackdown on protesters but stops short of dismissing it from its human rights committee.

Assad Digs in to Fight as UN Surveys Homs

Syria's Bashar al-Assad vowed to continue to battle 'foreign terrorists' as Int'l pressure fails to deter his bloody crackdown on dissent

Red Crescent Allowed into Homs

Aid workers accompanied by UN aid chief Valerie Amos entered the battered city of Homs as Syrian forces continue to shell other towns.

U.S. Proposes New Resolution on Syria

New resolution has Security Council demands an end to violence in Syria, both by government and opposition fighters.

Kofi Annan Begins Syrian Peace Bid

Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan is headed for Damascus in hopes of negotiating peace as Assad continues to spill his people's blood.

McCain Calls for U.S. Airstrikes in Syria

Senator John McCain calls for airstrikes against Syria. Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum says he would consider that.

Report: French Soldiers Captured in Syria

Reports are circulating that French troops are already aiding rebels in Syria as the West wrangles over a Libya-style intervention.

Assad's Father-In-Law 'Horrified' by Crackdown

Bashar Assad's London-based father-in-law says he is horrified by crackdown on protesters, worries about his daughter's safety.

Israel Offers Aid to Syrian Citizens

Israel offers to send help to Syrian citizens. “The state of the Jewish people can’t just sit by," FM says.

Syrian Govt 'Mop-up' in Homs: Executions and Rape

Syrian government forces refuse to allow Red Cross workers into Homs as they continue “mop-up” operations: raping and murdering civilians.

Syrian Forces Execute 47 Army Defectors

Forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad executed 47 army defectors as the bloody assault on the central city of Homs continues

Red Cross Denied Access to Homs as Killing Continues

Red Cross says Syria has blocked an aid convoy from entering the Baba Amr neighborhood of Homs. Meanwhile, the crackdown continues.

Haaretz Journalist: Allah is Not Great

Gideon Levy of Haaretz says Allah reveals his weakness to Syria's Sunni Muslims, whose fate depends on help from the world and from Israel.

Trapped French Journalists Escape Syria

After being trapped in Homs for days, French journalists Edith Bouvier and William Daniels reach Lebanon.

Syria Civil War Comes Close to Israeli Border

At least 15 people killed in clashes between Assad's forces and army deserters, just 2 kilometers from the border with Israel.

Security Council to Syria: Let Humanitarian Chief In

UN Security Council deplores the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, calls on Assadto grant UN humanitarian access.

Libyan Gov't to Give $100M to Syrian Rebels

The Libyan government – formerly Libya's opposition forces – says it will give $100 million in food and medicine to Syria's rebel forces.

Journalists in Syria: 3 Dead, 3 Out, 2 MIAs

In less than a month, three journalists have been killed, three managed to escape and two are still missing in action in Syria, one wounded.

SFA: Iranian Tanks, Hizbullah Hit Squads in Homs

The top general for the Syrian Free Army says Iran and Hizbullah are actively aiding Bashar al-Assad in his brutal crackdown.