Syria

Video: Syrian Arabs Test IDF at Border, 'Five Killed'

At least five Syrian Arabs were killed by Israeli soldiers after testing Israel’s determination to stop them, Syrian media says. See IDF video.

Video Documentation of Syrian Brutality

Human Rights Watch posts video of Syrian brutality. (WARNING: Not suitable for children.) Death toll at 1,500. Internet restored after US protest.

Netanyahu: Israel Will Protect Its Borders

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says Israel has "right and obligation to protect its borders" ahead of expected 'Naksa Day' incursions.

Report: Syria Willing to Cooperate with IAEA

A document made available to AP states that Syria is willing to allow IAEA access to a nuclear site bombed by Israel in 2007.

Iran Helps Syria Kill Protesters; Tanks Surround Two Cities

Iran has sent more security forces to help Syria’s war against the growing protest movement while tanks surround two more cities this weekend.

Syrian Experts Claim: Sanctions Are ‘Illegal’

Syrian law experts tell Syria news agency that the U.S. and EU measures against Syria are illegal according to international law.

Canada Imposes Sanctions Against Syria

Canada become the latest country to impose sanctions on Syria, preventing its leaders from traveling to Canada and banning trade.

IDF Alert on Border as 'Nakba Day' Continuation Planned

The IDF has upped its presence on the northern border over calls to continue “Nakba Day” with a Friday march on Israel.

Dutch NGO Asks Shell to Suspend Syrian Operations

A Dutch Christian NGO has asked Royal Dutch Shell oil company to suspend its operations in Syria.

NYT: Israel a Tool in Syrian Civil War

NYT: Israel has become a weapon in the arsenal of Syrian President Bashar Assad against grassroots protesters trying to topple his regime.

Legal Forum Demands: Do Justice with Syrian Infiltrator

Legal Forum for the Land of Israel asks government’s legal adviser to put the Syrian infiltrator who reached Tel Aviv on trial.

Syrian Infiltrator Reached Tel Aviv

One of the Syrian infiltrators got as far as Tel Aviv and later turned himself in using a news correspondent. "I wanted to visit Jaffa," he said.

IDF Continues to Pursue Syrian Infiltrators in Golan

One Syrian was arrested this morning; the IDF is looking for others. IDF is praised for acting with restraint, criticized for not being ready.

Israel Blames Iranian Axis for Mass Infiltration into Golan

Israeli military and government officials have blamed the Iranian axis for incitement by allowing Syrian Arabs to cross into the Golan Sunday.

IDF Battles Hundreds of Syrian Arabs in Golan; One Dead

At least one person was killed and dozens were wounded as IDF soldiers try to beat back nearly 1,000 Syrian Arabs who invaded the Golan Sunday.

Jordan Cozies Up to Assad

Jodan's Prime Minister calls to wish Assad's regime well as the US and west seek to isolate it for its bloody crackdown.

Kuwait ‘Lesser of Two Evils’ for UN Human Rights Panel

Syria’s killing of protesters costs it a place on the UN Human Rights panel. Its candidacy is taken over by Kuwait, where there is no rule of law.

Assad’s Forces Kill Women Protesters and Child

Assad’s’ forces shot and killed women and at least one child. Protesters stand up to brute force. Video: Demonstrators topple statue of Assad.

Syrian Opposition Leader: Israelis Can Remain in Golan

Farid Ghadry, leader of the opposition Reform Party of Syria, says that Israelis should remain in the Golan even though it must return to Syria.

Turkey’s Ties with Syria Boomerang, Flood of Refugees Feared

Turkey’s pursuit of trade benefits by allying with Syria leaves Ankara bracing for a flood of refugees from Assad’s brutal crackdown on opponents.

IAEA Confirms Syria Tried to Build Nuclear Reactor

IAEA head Yukiya Amano said Thursday Syria did try to build a nuclear reactor at the site Israeli warplanes bombed five years ago.

West Fails to Condemn Syria

Largely due to Russia, China and Lebanon's efforts, the UN Security Council failed to agree on opposition to Syria’s violence against protestors.

Red-Faced Britain Drops Syria from Royal Wedding

Britain has removed the Syrian ambassador from its invitation to the upcoming royal wedding, less than 24 hours after saying he was welcome.

Assad is ’World’s Most Dangerous Man’ says Joel Brinkley

Assad is the world’s “most dangerous man,” says Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Joel Brinkley. It’s "absurd” that Clinton calls him a reformer.

Video: Syrian Forces Fire on Funeral

Syrian forces shot and killed mourners at a funeral as the death toll in the uprising passes 300. Assad faces a real threat to his regime.

Mild Western Reaction to Mass Deaths in Syria

Dozens of Syrians were killed by the country's security forces, but the US and EU issued what many Israelis said was a mild protest statement.

Middle East Round-Up April 4-6

A review of the turbulent events in the Middle East for April 4-6; Assad Bans Soccer; the Saudis are tense; and More!

Syria: Seven Police Killed, Buildings Torched in Protests

Continued protests in Syria claim lives of seven police and four protesters, and result in burning a courthouse and Baath Party HQ in Daraa.

Egypt's New Rulers Friendly with Assad

Egypt's military rulers are ending long-term tension with Syria, and planning “cooperation” with Assad.

IDF Navy Seizes Ship Filled With Arms on way from Syria to Egypt

The Israeli Navy seized a German owned, French operated and Liberian flagged ship sailing from Syria to Alexandria crammed with weapons for Hamas.

Satellite Photos: More Nuclear Sites in Syria

Western intelligence agencies have detected another nuclear plant in Syria – in a Damascus suburb.

Assad: Revolutions a Result of Regional Political ‘Disease’

Protests that toppled the Tunisian government and threatened the Mubarak regime are a result of a regional political disease, Syria’s Assad says.

Assad Prepares for ‘Day of Rage’ in Syria

“Revolution fever” spreads to Syria, but Assad holds the upper hand. He is lowering prices, says he wants reforms - but still restricts Facebook.

Wikileaks: Syria Suspects Israel in 2008 Murder

Syria suspects Israel of killing a top security aide to President Assad, according to cables leaked by Wikileaks.

Syria Told Iran: 'We're Too Weak' to Help You Fight Israel

US cable on 'Wikileaks' says Tehran wanted Syria to say it would join it and Hizbullah in a war against Israel, but Syria said no.

Bush ‘Political Comeback Memoir’ Exposes Israeli Strike on Syria

Bush’s memoir, an attempt to boost his lowly political image, goes on sale Tuesday, exposing what everyone knows: Israel bombed Syria nuke site.

‘Syria Helps Hizbullah Build Anti-Israel Army in North Lebanon'

Syria has helped Hizbullah entrench itself in northern Lebanon with 40,000 long-range missiles and 10,000 militia men, Le Figaro reports.

EU Discusses Closer Ties with Syria Despite Terror Axis

A EU official is to visit Damascus Thursday in an effort to improve ties with Syria, which has allied itself with Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas.

Two Arab Israelis Suspected of Espionage

Residents of Druze village in Golan Heights are suspected of having ties to Syrian intelligence.

US Fears Russian Cruise Missile for Syria to Destabilize Mideast

The US shares Israel’s concern over the possibility of Hizbullah obtaining advanced anti-ship missiles that Russian is selling to Syria.

Clinton’s ‘Peace Partner Syria’ Hosts Ahmadinejad

Ahmadinejad visited Syria on his way to the United States, two days after Hillary Clinton sent Mitchell to Beirut and Damascus for peace talks.

IAEA: Syria Does Not Cooperate

New IAEA report says that Syria refuses to allow inspectors access to key sites suspected of nuclear activities.

Syria Tying Knot with Hizbullah and Lebanon in Case of War

Syria's Assad puts the cards on the table and urges a joint Syrian-Lebanese-Hizbullah front against Israel, as he hosts Lebanese Prime Minister.

800,000 Refugees in Syria Drought

A four year drought in northeastern Syria has driven hundreds of thousands of farmers into refugee camps.

Report: Israel Plans to Strike in Syria

Kuwaiti newspaper reports that Israel plans to attack Hizbullah weapons facilities in Syria.

IDF to Establish Anti-Chemical Unit

New IDF unit will focus on chemical warfare threat from Israel's neighbors.

Assad: Don't Dare Blame Hizbullah for Hariri Murder

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned an international tribunal against finding Hizbullah guilty for Rafik al-Hariri's murder;

Syria Bans Face-Coverings in Universities

Syria has banned Islamic face-coverings for university women. Middle East expert Dr. David Bukai says Israel should do the same.

Human Rights Watch Blasts Syria; Obama Tries to ’Engage' Assad

Human Rights Watch reports of a”wasted decade” in which Assad trampled rights. Obama still eyes Assad as key to Middle East peace.

Report: Iran-Iraq-Syria Missile Route Revealed

Iran has sent dozens of truckloads of missiles to Syria via Iraq, says former minister Mordechai Ben-Porat.

Sen. Specter's Syrian Shuttle Diplomacy

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter is the latest figure to attempt to broker peace between Israel and Syria -- apparently also without success.

Syria Reaches Out from Iran to Argentina for Allies

Syria receives advanced radar from Iran and promises to back Argentinean claims for the Falklands in return for support for Golan Heights.

Syria Jails 400 in Crackdown on PKK

Syria has reportedly arrested 400 ethnic Kurds in five cities in an attempt to assist Turkey against PKK rebel forces.

Venezuelan-Syrian Axis Renewed in Caracas

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez welcomed Syrian President Bashar Assad during his “historic” first visit to Caracas on Saturday.

NATO Watches Syria Smuggle Weapons to Hizbullah

NATO submarines have been watching the Syrian coastline and searching for ships suspected of smuggling weapons to Hizbullah and other terrorists.

Satellite Pictures Seen of Hizbullah Base on Syrian Soil

The London Times reports seeing satellite pictures of an arms depot and Hizbullah terrorist compound north of Damascus.

Obama’s Mixed Message to Syria: Kerry ‘Engages’ Assad

Obama sent Sen. Kerry to “engage” Syria three weeks after extending sanctions against the country, officially termed as a sponsor of terror.

Russia Wants to Build Nuclear Plants in Syria

Russia wants to help Syria, which has been charged with trying to get nuclear arms, build nuclear plants while promoting a nuke-free Middle East.

Syria, Russia Upgrade Ties, Israel Fears More Arms for Hizbullah

Syria upstages the US and hosts Russian President Medvedev as they upgrade ties despite American disapproval of Syrian missile aid to Hizbullah.

US Renews Sanctions Against Syria For 30th Time

Sanctioned by the United States since the Carter administration in 1979, Syria is back on the state-sponsored terror list for the 30th time.