Bashar Al-Assad

Rebels Say Iranian Diplomat Assassinated in Syria

Syrian rebels claimed they assassinated an Iranian diplomat in Damascus as war continues in the city of Aleppo.

UN General Assembly to Discuss Syria Crisis

UN General Assembly to meet on Syria, vote on a resolution that condemns the Security Council for failing to take action against Damascus.

Technion Prof. Supports Assad

Prof. Kalman Altman: The rebels present massacres they committed as Assad's doing.

Syria's Foreign Minister Blames Israel for Unrest

Syria’s Foreign Minister and his Iranian counterpart accuse Israel of plotting to overthrow the regime of Syrian President Assad.

Syrian Conflict Turns to Aleppo

Aleppo becomes main arena for conflict as bloody battles are staged in Syria’s second largest city and regime forces prepare to strike.

Assad Knows Israel Will Attack, If Necessary, Says Lieberman

Assad knows Israel will attack Hizbullah if it obtains his chemical weapons, said Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Video: Ramadan Bombing of Damascus

Assad sent helicopters to bomb rebel positions in Damascus and warplanes to strafe Aleppo in his brutal war to stay in power.

Defected Syrian General: Denounce Assad's Crimes

Defected Syrian brigadier general Manaf Tlas calls on the Syrian military to denounce the crimes committed by Assad's forces.

Iranian Mouthpiece Media Calls on Syria to Attack Israel

Syrian President Bashar Assad should attack Israel, says an Iranian newspaper considered the mouthpiece of the Supreme Leader.

Obama Directly Warns Assad About Using Chemical Weapons

Obama: Assad will be held accountable if he made the “tragic mistake” of using his stockpile of chemical weapons.

Arab League Offers Assad Safe Exit

A ministerial committee of the Arab League has offered embattled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad a safe-exit if he agrees to step down.

Syrian Capital, Aleppo Teetering Between Loyalists, Rebels

Fighting is raging in Damascus and Aleppo as Syrian opposition forces battle troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad for final control.

Syria Fighting Continues as Army Pounds Damascus

Syrian army helicopters pound Damascus with rockets and heavy machine guns and tanks, try to reverse gains by rebels.

Barak: Assad's Fall Closer than Ever

Defense Minister Ehud Barak estimates that the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime is closer than ever.

UN Security Council Extends Syrian Monitoring Mission

The UN Security Council votes unanimously to extend its monitoring mission in Syria for 30 days.

Bashar Assad 'Ready to Leave'?

Assad is ready to give up power "in a civilized manner," says Russian envoy to Paris. Syria denies it.

Assad Filmed as Syria Reaches the Brink

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad appeared on television to swear in his new defense minister amid speculations he had gone into hiding.

Report: Assad Disappears from Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appears to have disappeared from Damascus after his top security staff was killed in a suicide bombing.

Syrian Rebels: Assad's Regime is Crumbling

Syrian army defectors and rebel commanders say that Damascus attack would hasten the end of President Bashar Al-Assad's rule.

Jordan's King: Damascus Attack a Serious Blow to Assad

Jordan's King Abdullah II says the attack that killed members of Assad's inner circle is a “tremendous blow to the regime.”

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.

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.

Video: Syrian Systematic Torture Chambers Exposed

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

‘Arab Internal Disputes Fuel Anti-Israel Terror’

A growing terrorist state in Sinai and disputes in Lebanon increase the likelihood of missile attacks on Israel, says a defense analyst.

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.

Syria 'Moving Sarin, Cyanide Out of Storage'

U.S. alarmed that Assad is preparing to use stockpiles of sarin nerve agent, mustard gas and cyanide.

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.

Peacenik Canadian Arab Joins Syria Rebels

Engineer Thawaiba Kanafani of Toronto volunteers for Free Army. Blames Assad for war with Israel.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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

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.

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: 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

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.'

Explosion Rocks Syrian Palace of Justice

A large explosion shook downtown Damascus as bloody fighting continues in and around the capital.

Barak: Lots of People Wanted Ranaja Gone

Defense Minister Ehud Barak did not rule out Israel as a possible assailant in the elimination of Kamal Hussein Ranaja

U.S. Group Cancels Talk by Syria's Grand Mufti

Foundation for Middle East Peace rescinds an invitation to Syria's top Muslim cleric after learning he threatened suicide bombings.

Gunmen Storm Pro-Gov't Syrian News TV Station

Opposition forces in Syria stormed a pro-government satellite news television station Wednesday, killing three.

Syria in a Real Situation of War, Says Assad

Syrian President Bashar Assad tells the new parliament that Syria must secure victory in the war against anti-regime rebels.

Dozens Killed in Damascus Suburb Clashes

Fierce fighting on the outskirts of Damascus has left dozens killed in some of the heaviest fighting seen in Syria's capital to date.

Civil War Clashes on Outskirts of Damascus

Assad’s soldiers are using artillery in fierce clashes against armed rebels, near troops' residences close to Damascus.

Turkish Warplane Disappears - Is Syria Responsible?

Turkish warplane disappears over the Mediterranean, reports say it may have been shot down by Syrian security sources.

Report: More Senior Syrian Officials May Defect

Members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle are secretly making plans to defect to the opposition, say U.S. officials.

Dagan: Time to Get Rid of Assad

Former Mossad chief says situation in Egypt is not as bad as some people say it is.

Russian Ship with Syrian Choppers 'Turns Back'

Following British pressure on an insurance company at U.S. behest, attack helicopters will not reach Syria.